Lewis & Short

in-scrībo, psi, ptum, 3, v. a., to write in or upon any thing, to inscribe (class.).

  1. I. Lit.: aliquid in basi tropaeorum, Cic. Pis. 38, 92: in statua inscripsit, Parenti optime merito, id. Fam. 12, 3, 1: nomen suum monumentis, id. Har. Resp. 27: ea inscribam brevi, quae, etc., id. Att. 4, 1, 4: sit inscriptum in fronte unius cujusque civis, quid de re publica sentiat, id. Cat. 1, 13, 32: orationes in animo, id. de Or. 2, 87, 355: ut, si quae essent incisae aut inscriptae litterae, tollerentur, id. Dom. 53, 137: senarioli in ejus monumento inscripti, id. Tusc. 5, 23, 64: in illis libellis, id. Arch. 11, 26 B. and K. (Klotz omits in): Pan … vix ulla inscribens terrae vestigia cornu, Sil. 13, 328.
    Pass. with Gr. acc.: inscripti nomina regum flores, Verg. E. 3, 106.
    1. B. Transf., to furnish with an inscription: statuae, quas tu inscribi jussisti, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 69, § 167: aedes, to write on a house that it is for sale: aedes venales hasce inscribit litteris, Plaut. Trin. 1, 2, 131; cf.: aedes mercede, Ter. Heaut. 1, 1, 92: librum, to inscribe, give a title to a book: eos (libellos) rhetoricos inscribunt, Cic. de Or. 3, 31, 122: in eo libro, qui Oeconomicus inscribitur, is entitled, id. Off. 2, 24, 87: inscripta lintea, i. e. curtains used as signs, Juv. 8, 168.
      Hence, subst.: inscriptum, i, n., an inscription, title: alia inscripta nimis lepida, Gell. praef. 3.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. In g e n.: vitiis suis sapientiam inscribit, gives to his vices the name of wisdom, Sen. Vit. Beat. 12.
    2. B. In partic.
      1. 1. To ascribe, assign, attribute: Epicurus, quia tantummodo induit personam philosophi, et sibi ipse hoc nomen inscripsit, has assigned, appropriated to himself, Cic. Tusc. 5, 26, 73: deos sceleri, to ascribe crimes to the gods, Ov. M. 15, 128: mea dextera leto Inscribenda tuo est, thy death is to be ascribed to my hand, id. ib. 10, 199.
      2. 2. To make known, mark, as if by an inscription: sua quemque deorum inscribit facies, Ov. M. 6, 74: versā pulvis inscribitur hastā, Verg. A. 1, 478; cf.: sua quemque deorum Inscribit facies, makes known, characterizes, Ov. M. 6, 74.
      3. 3. To brand, place a brand upon: vultus. Plin. 18, 3, 4, § 21: naufrago stigmata, Sen. Ben. 4, 37, 3: inscripta ergastula, Juv. 14, 24.
      4. 4. To subscribe an accusation (post-class.), Cod. 9, 35, 11.
      5. 5. To write something over an old writing, so that the latter is no longer legible (post-class.): de his, quae in testamento delentur, inducuntur, inscribuntur, Dig. 28, 4.