'transcribe' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'transcribere', where 'trans-' meant 'across' and 'scribere' meant 'to write'.

'transcribere' passed into Medieval Latin and Old French forms and into Middle English as 'transcriben' before becoming the modern English 'transcribe'.

Initially it meant 'to write across or copy', and over time it retained that central idea of copying or transferring written or spoken material into writing.