Cursive: meaning, definitions and examples

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cursive

 

[ ˈkɜːrsɪv ]

Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adjective

handwriting

Written with a flowing, connected, looped style. Cursive writing is often used for signatures and formal documents.

Synonyms

flowing, italic, script.

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Word Description / Examples
cursive

Used to describe a style of handwriting where the letters are joined together in a smooth, flowing manner. Often taught in schools as a form of handwriting.

  • She practiced writing in cursive for her handwriting class
script

Can refer to any type of writing, including cursive, especially when discussing fonts or computer-generated text. It often implies a more formal or artistic style.

  • The wedding invitations were printed in an elegant script font
italic

Refers to a style of typeface that slants to the right; often used for emphasis in printed text, book titles, or when citing works.

  • She highlighted the book title in italic to make it stand out
flowing

Describes a style of writing or font that is smooth and continuous. It can also refer to a style of art or design that appears graceful and seamless.

  • The invitation was written in a beautiful, flowing script

Examples of usage

  • She writes in cursive to make her notes look more elegant.
  • The invitation was written in beautiful cursive script.
Context #2 | Noun

education

A style of penmanship where letters are joined together in a flowing manner. Cursive is taught in many schools as a form of handwriting.

Synonyms

handwriting, joined-up writing, script.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
cursive

Used in formal and educational settings to describe a style of writing where the letters are connected.

  • The teacher instructed us to practice our cursive writing.
  • Her cursive is elegant and easy to read.
script

Used to describe a specific style of writing that could be either handwritten or a font style. Can also refer to writing for media like films or plays.

  • She wrote an elegant love letter in beautiful script.
  • The movie's script was well-written and engaging.
joined-up writing

Often used in British English, especially when teaching children to write with connected letters.

  • In school, we learned joined-up writing during our handwriting lessons.
  • Her joined-up writing has improved significantly.
handwriting

General term for writing done by hand, often used to describe personal writing style.

  • His handwriting is very neat.
  • You can tell a lot about someone from their handwriting.

Examples of usage

  • The teacher asked the students to practice their cursive writing.
  • He struggled with his cursive, as he was used to printing his letters.

Translations

Translations of the word "cursive" in other languages:

🇵🇹 cursivo

🇮🇳 हस्तलिपि

🇩🇪 kursiv

🇮🇩 kursif

🇺🇦 курсив

🇵🇱 kursywa

🇯🇵 草書体 (そうしょたい)

🇫🇷 cursive

🇪🇸 cursiva

🇹🇷 eğik yazı

🇰🇷 필기체 (pilgiche)

🇸🇦 كتابة مائلة

🇨🇿 kurziva

🇸🇰 kurzíva

🇨🇳 草书 (cǎoshū)

🇸🇮 kurziva

🇮🇸 skáletrun

🇰🇿 курсив

🇬🇪 კურსივი

🇦🇿 kursiv

🇲🇽 cursiva

Etymology

The word 'cursive' comes from the Latin word 'cursivus', meaning 'running' or 'flowing'. Cursive writing has been used for centuries, with its origins traced back to the Roman Empire. It became popular in the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods as a way to write faster and more elegantly. Today, cursive writing is still taught in some educational systems, although its usage has declined with the rise of digital communication.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,551, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.