cursive

1 of 2

adjective

cur·​sive ˈkər-siv How to pronounce cursive (audio)
Synonyms of cursivenext
: running, coursing: such as
a
of writing : flowing often with the strokes of successive characters joined and the angles rounded
b
: having a flowing, easy, impromptu character
cursively adverb
cursiveness noun

cursive

2 of 2

noun

1
: a manuscript written in cursive writing
also : cursive writing
2
: a style of printed letter resembling handwriting

Examples of cursive in a Sentence

Noun He writes in cursive when he takes notes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
That tattoo has a cursive M which turns into a J with a rose on the end. —Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2024 Swift then appeared in a white corset dress with cursive writing adorning its skirt and a chunky Vivienne Westwood choker. —Ellise Shafer, Variety, 10 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for cursive 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cursive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Medieval Latin cursīvus, from Latin cursus, past participle of currere "to run" + -īvus -ive — more at current entry 1

Note: The word cursīva (scrīptūra "writing" presumably understood) is used for scripts by the German Benedictine monk and scribe Leonhard Wagner (Leonardus Wirchlin, 1453-1522) in Proba centum scripturarum una manu exaratarum (1507), which named and exemplified a hundred different hands from the 11th century to the author's own day. It is unclear if the word was used earlier. (There is no lemma for cursīvus in the Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch.) For Latin cursus as the past participle of currere—for expected *co(r)stus—see note at course entry 1.

Noun

derivative of cursive entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1784, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cursive was circa 1784

Dictionary Entries Near cursive

cursitor

cursive

cursor

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Cursive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cursive. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

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Kids Definition

cursive

adjective
cur·​sive
ˈkər-siv
: written or formed with the strokes of the letters joined together and the angles rounded
cursive handwriting
cursive noun
cursively adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on cursive

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cursive

Nglish: Translation of cursive for Spanish Speakers

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