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nd I should be obscured. Shak. There is scarce any duty which has been so obscured by the writings of learned men as this. Wake. And seest not sin obscures thy godlike frame Dryden.

sused; neglected; as, an obsolete word; an obsolete statute; -- applied chiefly to words, writings, or observances.

ires or admits; casual; incidental; as, occasional remarks, or efforts. The... occasional writing of the present times. Bagehot.

very odd book for a man to make himself master of, who would get a reputation by critical writings. Spectator.

A particular kind of writing practiced by the ancient Irish, and found in inscriptions on stones, metals, etc. [Written also ogam.]

Applied to a signature when the body of the instrument is in another's handwriting. Burrill.

A writing upon the back of anything, as upon the back of a leaf or sheet already written upon on one side. [R.] Scudamore.

Hence: A commission to purchase, sell, or supply goods; a direction, in writing, to pay money, to furnish supplies, to admit to a building, a place of entertainment, or the like; as, orders for blankets are large. In those days were pit orders -- beshrew the uncomfortable manager who abolished them. Lamb.…

on; customary; usual. Shak. Method is not less reguisite in ordinary conversation that in writing. Addison.

The art or practice of writing words with the proper letters, according to standard usage; conventionally correct spelling; also, mode of spelling; as, his orthography is vicious. When spelling no longer follows the pronunciation, but is hardened into orthography. Earle.

To exceed or excel in writing.

ometimes, to observe secretly; as, to overlook a gang of laborers; to overlook one who is writing a letter.

or an inspection, as of a deed, bond, etc., as when a defendant in court prays oyer of a writing. Blackstone. Oyer and terminer (Law), a term used in England in commissions directed to judges of assize about to hold court, directing them to hear and determine cases brought before them. In the U.S. the phrase is used t…

A kind of cushion for writing upon, or for blotting; esp., one formed of many flat sheets of writing paper, or layers of blotting paper; a block of paper.

Fig.: A record; a writing; as, the page of history.

An ancient manner of writing; ancient writings, collectively; as, Punic paleography.

A parchment which has been written upon twice, the first writing having been erased to make place for the second. Longfellow.

A writing; a book. Testament of love. Sir Thomas More in his pamphlet of Richard the Third. Ascham.

The digest, or abridgment, in fifty books, of the decisions, writings, and opinions of the old Roman jurists, made in the sixth century by direction of the emperor Justinian, and forming the leading compilation of the Roman civil law. Kent.

One who delivers a panegyric; a eulogist; one who extols or praises, either by writing or speaking. If these panegyrists are in earnest. Burke.