Word
cursive
Phoneticscur·sive
UK/kˈɜːsɪv/
Definition
n. a style of writing where the letters are joined together in a flowing way. It is often used for signatures or in some schools to teach handwriting.
n. a style of handwriting in which the letters are joined in a flowing manner. Often used to distinguish formal or traditional script from modern block printing.
Examples
“She wrote her name in cursive on the envelope.”
“Many primary schools are moving away from teaching cursive in favor of keyboarding skills.”
“The historical document was difficult to read because the scribe had written the entire text in a dense, looping cursive that had faded over centuries.”
Examples
simple
“She wrote her name in cursive on the envelope.”
contextual
“Many primary schools are moving away from teaching cursive in favor of keyboarding skills.”
complex
“The historical document was difficult to read because the scribe had written the entire text in a dense, looping cursive that had faded over centuries.”
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French cursif, from Medieval Latin cursīvus, from Latin cursus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/cursive