Copyist: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe someone who makes exact copies of written or printed material, often by hand. This term is historical, typically associated with the period before the invention of the printing press.

• The medieval manuscript was reproduced by a skilled copyist.
• Copyists were essential for the dissemination of texts in ancient times.

Refers to a person who wrote books or documents by hand as a profession, particularly in ancient or medieval times. The term is also used in specific contexts like religious settings.

• Monks acted as scribes, carefully copying religious texts in monasteries.
• Ancient Egyptian scribes played a crucial role in recording history.

Modern term for someone who converts spoken or recorded audio into written text. This role is essential in various fields, including legal, medical, and media industries.

• The court proceedings were documented by a skilled transcriber.
• A transcriber listened to the interview and produced an accurate written transcript.

An older term, often used in legal contexts, to describe someone who writes or transcribes documents and contracts by hand. It is somewhat archaic and less commonly used today.

• The wealthy merchant hired a scrivener to draft his legal documents.
• In the 17th century, a scrivener was responsible for preparing important contracts.

A copyist is someone who accurately copies written or printed material. This term is often used in the context of manuscripts, legal documents, or musical scores where precision in copying is essential.

• The copyist spent hours ensuring every note of the symphony was accurately transcribed onto the sheet music.
• During the medieval period, monks often served as copyists, meticulously transcribing religious texts.

An arranger takes a piece of music and reworks it, potentially changing the instrumentation or style to fit a different context or ensemble while preserving the core elements of the original composition.

• The arranger turned the classical piano piece into a full orchestral arrangement for the concert.
• She is known as a talented arranger, transforming simple melodies into complex jazz pieces.

A transcriber converts audio or handwritten notes into written form. In music, this involves writing down a piece of music that might have been improvised or not previously documented.

• The transcriber listened to the jazz improvisation and meticulously wrote down every note.
• She worked as a transcriber, turning interview recordings into typed documents.

An orchestrator specializes in taking a piece of music, often written for piano or a small group, and arranging it for an orchestra, assigning different parts to various instruments.

• The composer wrote the main themes of the film score, but the orchestrator was responsible for the rich and detailed orchestral textures.
• As an orchestrator, he worked on many Broadway musicals, ensuring every instrument had a role to play.