nonwritten
Not put down
Nonwritten describes communication or records that don't take written form.
A nonwritten agreement might be verbal or sealed with a handshake.
Nonwritten sources in historical research include oral traditions, artifacts, and images.
The term appears mainly in academic and legal contexts where the distinction from written material matters.
Expressed in words aloud
- verbalOf or in words
- speechOral communication ability
- storytellingRecounting events aloud
- recitationOral delivery from memory
narration · conversation · dialogue · folklore · epic · ballad · legend · mythology
Inscribing one's name
- gesturesExpressive body movements
- mimeWordless expressive performer
- pantomimeDrama through gesture alone
- charadesWordless guessing game
nonverbal · semaphore · kinesics · gesticulate · signals · emoting · expressive · mudra
Not verbally expressed
- tacitUnderstood without words
- understoodGrasped the meaning
- assumedTaken as true
- impliedSuggested without stating
unstated · convention · custom · tradition · innuendo · subtext · insinuation · hint
Not officially recorded
- ephemeralLasting very briefly
- unarchivedRemoved from archived status
- unpublishedNot yet in print
- unpreservedNot kept from decay
transient · fleeting · lost · forgotten · impermanent · unregistered · unmarked · uncommitted
spoken
Expressed in words aloud
- verbalOf or in words
- speechOral communication ability
- storytellingRecounting events aloud
recitation · narration · conversation · dialogue · folklore · epic · ballad · legend · mythology · chant
signing
Inscribing one's name
- gesturesExpressive body movements
- mimeWordless expressive performer
- pantomimeDrama through gesture alone
charades · nonverbal · semaphore · kinesics · gesticulate · signals · emoting · expressive · mudra · hula
unspoken
Not verbally expressed
- tacitUnderstood without words
- understoodGrasped the meaning
- assumedTaken as true
implied · unstated · convention · custom · tradition · innuendo · subtext · insinuation · hint · suggestion
undocumented
Not officially recorded
- ephemeralLasting very briefly
- unarchivedRemoved from archived status
- unpublishedNot yet in print
unpreserved · transient · fleeting · lost · forgotten · impermanent · unregistered · unmarked · uncommitted · uninscribed
nonwrittenwritten
Composed in text
typed · documented · inscribed · in writing · put in writing
nonwrittenformal
Following strict protocol
official · on the record · documented · codified · enshrined
write, written, unwritten, writing, writer, writers, writings, wrote, rewrite