adulterer (n.) — affable (adj.)

adulterer (n.)

early 15c., agent noun from obsolete verb adulter "commit adultery; adulterate, make impure, pollute" (late 14c.), from Latin adulterare "to corrupt" (see adulteration). The earlier form in Middle English was avouter (c. 1300), avoutrer (late 14c.), "person (usually a man) guilty of adultery," from Old French avoutrier, from the Latin verb, or from Latin adulter "adulterer, seducer," noun use of an adjective.ETD adulterer (n.).2

adulterate (v.)

"debase by mixing with foreign or inferior material, make corrupt," 1530s, back-formation from adulteration, or else from Latin adulteratus, past participle of adulterare "to falsify, corrupt," also "to commit adultery." An earlier verb was adulter (late 14c. in the sense "make impure"), directly from the Latin verb, but this English verb also carried the meaning "commit adultery." Related: Adulterated; adulterating.ETD adulterate (v.).2

adulterant (n.)

"that which adulterates," 1735, from Latin adulterantem (nominative adulterans), present participle of adulterare (see adulteration).ETD adulterant (n.).2

adulteress (n.)

also adultress, "woman guilty of adultery," an early 17c. substitution for earlier avoutresse (late 14c.), agent noun in fem. form from obsolete verb adulter "commit adultery" (see adulterer), with fem. ending -ess.ETD adulteress (n.).2

adultery (n.)

"voluntary violation of the marriage bed," c. 1300, avoutrie, from Old French avouterie (12c., later adulterie, Modern French adultĕre), noun of condition from avoutre, from Latin adulterare "commit adultery; corrupt," from ad "to" (see ad-) + alterare "to alter" (see alter). Compare adulteration. The spelling was corrected toward Latin from early 15c. in English, following French (see ad-).ETD adultery (n.).2

In Middle English, also "sex between husband and wife for recreational purposes; idolatry, perversion, heresy." As a crime, formerly classified as single adultery (with an unmarried person) and double adultery (with a married person). The Old English word was æwbryce "breach of law(ful marriage)" (similar formation in German Ehebruch). In translations of the 7th Commandment it is understood to mean "lewdness or unchastity" of any kind, in act or thought.ETD adultery (n.).3

adulthood (n.)

"state or condition of being an adult," 1850, from adult (adj.) + -hood. Adultness is attested from 1731.ETD adulthood (n.).2

adumbrate (v.)

1580s, "to outline, to sketch," from Latin adumbratus "sketched, shadowed in outline," also "feigned, unreal, sham, fictitious," past participle of adumbrare "cast a shadow over;" in painting, "to represent (a thing) in outline," from ad "to" (see ad-) + umbrare "to cast in shadow" (from PIE root *andho- "blind; dark;" see umbrage). The meaning "overshadow" is from 1660s in English. Related: Adumbrated; adumbrating.ETD adumbrate (v.).2

adumbration (n.)

1550s, "faint sketch, imperfect representation," from Latin adumbrationem (nominative adumbratio) "a sketch in shadow, sketch, outline," noun of action from past-participle stem of adumbrare "to cast a shadow, overshadow," in painting, "represent (a thing) in outline," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + umbrare "to cast in shadow" (from PIE root *andho- "blind; dark;" see umbrage).ETD adumbration (n.).2

ad valorem

type of customs duties based on the market value of goods at the original place of shipment, 1711, Modern Latin, "(in proportion) to the value," from ad "to" (see ad-) + Late Latin valorem, accusative of valor "value" (see value (n.)). Sometimes abbreviated ad val.ETD ad valorem.2

advance (v.)

mid-13c., avauncen (transitive), "improve (something), further the development of," from Old French avancir, avancier "move forward, go forward, set forward" (12c., Modern French avancer), from Vulgar Latin *abanteare (source of Italian avanzare, Spanish avanzar). This is from Late Latin abante "from before," composed of ab "from" (see ab-) + ante "before, in front of, against" (from PIE root *ant- "front, forehead").ETD advance (v.).2

Compare French avant "before" (as in avant-garde), which is from the same Late Latin word. The unetymological -d- in English was inserted 16c. on the mistaken notion that initial syllable was from Latin ad-.ETD advance (v.).3

It is attested from c. 1300 as "to promote, raise to a higher rank." The intransitive sense of "move forward, move further in front" is by mid-14c.; the transitive meaning "bring forward in place, move (something) forward" is from c. 1500. The meaning "give (money, etc.) before it is legally due" is attested by 1670s. Related: Advanced; advancing. The adjective (in advance warning, etc.) is recorded from 1843.ETD advance (v.).4

advanced (adj.)

1530s, "far ahead in the course of actions or ideas; being beyond others in attainment, degree, etc.," past-participle adjective from advance (v.). Of studies, from 1790. Of age, by 1713. In late 19c. used especially in reference to views on women's equality.ETD advanced (adj.).2

advancement (n.)

c. 1300, avauncement, "a raising to a higher rank," also "promotion, assistance," from Old French avancement "advancement; profit, advance payment," from avancir "move forward" (see advance (v.)). The unetymological -d- is from 16c. The meaning "act of helping to move something forward" is from 1550s.ETD advancement (n.).2

advance (n.)

c. 1300, "boasting, ostentation" (senses now archaic), from advance (v.). Attested from early 15c. as "advancement in rank, wealth, etc.;" the physical sense of "state of being in front" is from 1660s; that of "a move forward or toward the front" is from 1670s. The commercial sense of "something given beforehand" is from 1680s (earlier in this sense was advancement, 1640s). The meaning "military signal to advance" is by 1849. Also "an act of approach" (1670s), hence advances "amorous overtures" (1706).ETD advance (n.).2

advantage (n.)

early 14c., avantage, "position of being in advance of another," from Old French avantage "advantage, profit; superiority" (12c.), from avant "before," probably via an unrecorded Late or Medieval Latin *abantaticum, from Latin abante "from before," composed of ab "from" (see ab-) + ante "before, in front of, against" (from PIE root *ant- "front, forehead"). Compare advance (v.).ETD advantage (n.).2

The unetymological -d- is a 16c. intrusion on the analogy of the many Latin ad- words in English. The meaning "any condition favorable to success, a favoring circumstance" (the opposite of a disadvantage) is from late 15c. The tennis score sense is from 1640s (in the writings of John Milton). Phrase take advantage of is from late 14c. as "avail oneself of," also "impose upon." To have the advantage of (someone) "have superiority over" is from 1560s.ETD advantage (n.).3

advantageous (adj.)

1590s, "furnishing advantages," formed in English from advantage + -ous on the model of French avantageux (15c.). Related: Advantageously; advantageousness.ETD advantageous (adj.).2

advent (n.)

"important arrival," 1742, an extended sense of Advent "season preceding Christmas" (in reference to the "coming" of Christ), which was in late Old English, from Latin adventus "a coming, approach, arrival," in Church Latin "the coming of the Savior," from past participle of advenire "arrive at, come to," from ad "to" (see ad-) + venire "to come" (from a suffixed form of PIE root *gwa- "to go, come"). Related: Adventual.ETD advent (n.).2

Adventist (n.)

"one of a religious denomination that believes in or looks for the early second coming of Christ to establish a personal reign," 1843; see advent + -ist. In Church Latin adventus was applied to the coming of the Savior, both the first or the anticipated second, hence Adventist was applied to millenarian sects, especially and originally the Millerites (U.S.). By the end of the 19c. there were three main divisions of them; the Seventh-Day Adventists (by 1860, see seventh) were so called for their observation of Saturday as the Sabbath.ETD Adventist (n.).2

adventitious (adj.)

"of the nature of an addition from without, not from the essence of the subject; accidentally or casually acquired," c. 1600, from Medieval Latin adventitius "coming from abroad, extraneous," a corruption of Latin adventicius "foreign, strange, accidental," from advent- past-participle stem of advenire "to arrive at, reach, come to" (see advent). Related: Adventitiously; adventitiousness.ETD adventitious (adj.).2

adventurer (n.)

late 15c., "one who plays at games of chance," agent noun from adventure (v.). The meaning "one who undertakes commercial ventures" is from c. 1600. The meaning "one who seeks adventures" is from 1660s. It often is used in a bad sense, "seeker of fortune by rash or underhanded means;" hence adventurism (1843, in early 20c. a term in communist jargon). Fem. form adventuress attested by 1754.ETD adventurer (n.).2

adventure (n.)

c. 1200, aventure, auenture "that which happens by chance, fortune, luck," from Old French aventure (11c.) "chance, accident, occurrence, event, happening," from Latin adventura (res) "(a thing) about to happen," from fem. of adventurus, future participle of advenire "to come to, reach, arrive at." This is from ad "to" (see ad-) + venire "to come" (from a suffixed form of PIE root *gwa- "to go, come").ETD adventure (n.).2

The meaning developed through "risk; danger" (a trial of one's chances), c. 1300, and "perilous undertaking" (late 14c.) to "novel or exciting incident, remarkable occurrence in one's life" (1560s).ETD adventure (n.).3

Earlier it also meant "a wonder, a miracle; accounts of marvelous things" (13c.). The -d- was restored in English 15c.-16c.; in French the attempt to restore it at about the same time was rejected. Venture is a 15c. variant. German Abenteuer is a borrowing of the French word, apparently deformed whimsically by influence of Abend "evening."ETD adventure (n.).4

adventurous (adj.)

mid-14c., "hazardous;" late 14c., "occurring by chance" (senses now obsolete), from Old French aventuros "chance, accidental, fortuitous;" of persons, "devoted to adventure" (Modern French aventureux), from aventure (see adventure (n.)). In English the sense of "rash, risk-taking" is from c. 1400, thence "daring, fond of adventure" (mid-15c.). Related: Adventurously; adventurousness.ETD adventurous (adj.).2

adventure (v.)

c. 1300, aventuren, "to risk the loss of," from Old French aventurer (12c.) "wander, travel; seek adventure; happen by chance," from aventure (n.); see adventure (n.). Meaning "take a chance" is early 14c. Related: Adventured; adventuring.ETD adventure (v.).2

adventuresome (adj.)

1731, "bold, daring," from adventure + -some (1). Related: Adventuresomeness.ETD adventuresome (adj.).2

adverb (n.)

"one of the indeclinable parts of speech, so called from being ordinarily joined to verbs for the purpose of limiting or extending their signification, but used also to qualify adjectives and other adverbs" [Century Dictionary], late 14c., from Late Latin adverbium "adverb," literally "that which is added to a verb" (to extend or limit its meaning), from ad "to" (see ad-) + verbum "verb, word" (from PIE root *were- (3) "to speak;" see verb). Coined by Flavius Sosipater Charisius as a translation of Greek epirrhema "adverb," from epi- "upon, on" + rhema "verb."ETD adverb (n.).2

adverbial (adj.)

1610s, "pertaining to adverbs;" earlier it meant "fond of using adverbs" (1590s), from Late Latin adverbialis, from adverbium "an adverb" (see adverb). Related: Adverbially (mid-15c.).ETD adverbial (adj.).2

adverse (adj.)

late 14c., "contrary, opposing," from Old French advers, earlier avers (13c., Modern French adverse) "antagonistic, unfriendly, contrary, foreign" (as in gent avers "infidel race"), from Latin adversus "turned against, turned toward, fronting, facing," figuratively "hostile, adverse, unfavorable," past participle of advertere "to turn toward," from ad "to" (see ad-) + vertere "to turn, turn back; be turned; convert, transform, translate; be changed" (from PIE root *wer- (2) "to turn, bend"). For distinction of use, see averse. Related: Adversely.ETD adverse (adj.).2

adversity (n.)

c. 1200, aduersite "condition of misfortune, hardship, difficulty, distress," from Old French adversite, aversite "adversity, calamity, misfortune; hostility, wickedness, malice" (Modern French adversité), from Latin adversitatem (nominative adversitas) "opposition," from adversus "turned against, hostile" (see adverse).ETD adversity (n.).2

adversary (n.)

"unfriendly opponent, enemy" (originally especially of Satan as the enemy of mankind), mid-14c., aduersere, from Anglo-French adverser (13c.), Old French adversarie (12c., Modern French adversaire) "hostile opponent, enemy," or directly from Latin adversarius "an opponent, rival, enemy," noun use of adjective meaning "opposite, hostile, contrary," literally "turned toward one," from adversus "turned against, turned toward, fronting, facing," figuratively "hostile, adverse, unfavorable," past participle of advertere "to turn toward," from ad "to" (see ad-) + vertere "to turn, turn back, be turned; convert, transform, translate; be changed" (see versus). The Latin word is glossed in Old English by wiðerbroca.ETD adversary (n.).2

adversarial (adj.)

"involving adversaries," by 1892, from adversary (n.) + -al (1). The older adjective was simply adversary (late 14c.), but the tendency to confuse it in writing with the noun of the same form probably led to the creation of fresh adjectives (earlier examples are adversative, 1530s; adversarious, 1826). Related: Adversarially.ETD adversarial (adj.).2

advert (v.)

mid-15c., averten "to turn (something) aside" (the mind, the attention, etc.), from Old French avertir (later advertir) "to turn, direct; turn aside; make aware, inform" (12c.), from Latin advertere "turn toward, turn to," from ad "toward" (see ad-) + vertere "to turn" (see versus). The -d- was restored in English 16c. Especially in speaking or writing, "turn to (a topic) abruptly and plainly" (18c.). Related: Adverted; adverting.ETD advert (v.).2

advert (n.)

"paid public notice," by 1860, colloquial shortening of advertisement, from the print abbreviation, which is attested by 1855.ETD advert (n.).2

advertence (n.)

late 14c., "attention, heed, act of calling attention to," from Old French avertence, avertance, from Late Latin advertentia "attention, notice," abstract noun from past participle stem of advertere "direct one's attention to; give heed," literally "to turn toward" (see advertise).ETD advertence (n.).2

advertique (n.)

a collector's word for old advertisements, by 1974, from advertisement + antique.ETD advertique (n.).2

advertisement (n.)

early 15c., "written statement calling attention to (something), public notice" (of anything, but often of a sale); from Old French avertissement (15c., later respelled pedantically as advertissement, a change rejected in French but accepted in English), from stem of avertir "to turn, direct, make aware" (see advertise). Meaning "public notice (usually paid) in a newspaper or other publication," the main modern sense, emerged 1580s and was fully developed by 18c.; later extended to Web sites.ETD advertisement (n.).2

advertise (v.)

early 15c., advertisen, "to take notice of" (a sense now obsolete), from Old French advertiss-, present-participle stem of advertir (earlier avertir) "make aware, call attention, remark; turn, turn to" (12c.), from Latin advertere "to direct one's attention to; give heed," literally "to turn toward," from ad "to, toward" (see ad-) + vertere "to turn" (see versus).ETD advertise (v.).2

The transitive sense of "give notice to others, inform, warn; make clear or manifest" (mid-15c.) is by influence of advertisement; the specific commercial meaning "call attention to goods for sale, rewards, etc." emerged by late 18c. Compare advert (v.) "turn (someone's) attention to." Related: Advertised; advertising.ETD advertise (v.).3

advertiser (n.)

1560s, "one who notifies," agent noun from advertise (v.). From 1712 as "one who issues public notice," hence its use as a name for newspapers or journals (1769).ETD advertiser (n.).2

advertised (adj.)

late 15c., "informed;" 1780s, "publicly announced," past-participle adjective from advertise.ETD advertised (adj.).2

advice (n.)

late 13c., auys "opinion," from Old French avis "opinion, view, judgment, idea" (13c.), from phrase ço m'est à vis "it seems to me," or from Vulgar Latin *mi est visum "in my view," ultimately from Latin visum, neuter past participle of videre "to see" (from PIE root *weid- "to see"). Meaning "opinion offered as worthy to be followed, counsel" is from late 14c.ETD advice (n.).2

The unetymological -d- (on model of Latin words in ad-) was inserted occasionally in French by scribes 14c.-16c. and was made regular in English 15c. by Caxton. Substitution of -c- for -s- is 18c., to preserve the breath sound and to distinguish from advise. Early Modern English tended to alternate -ce and -se endings in otherwise confusable noun-verb pairs, using -se for the verb and -ce for the noun: devise/device, peace/appease, practice/practise, license/licence, prophecy/prophesy.ETD advice (n.).3

advise (v.)

late 13c., avisen "to view, consider" (a sense now obsolete); late 14c., "to give counsel to," from Old French aviser "deliberate, reflect, consider" (13c.), from avis "opinion," from phrase ço m'est à vis "it seems to me," or from Vulgar Latin *mi est visum "in my view," ultimately from Latin visum, neuter past participle of videre "to see" (from PIE root *weid- "to see"). The unetymological -d- is from 16c. Related: Advised; advising.ETD advise (v.).2

advisement (n.)

early 14c., avisement, "examination, inspection, observation," from Old French avisement "consideration, reflection; counsel, advice," from aviser "deliberate, reflect, consider," from avis "opinion" (see advice). The meaning "advice, counsel" is from c. 1400, as is that of "consultation, conference," now obsolete except in the legalese phrase under advisement. The unetymological -d- is a 16c. scribal overcorrection.ETD advisement (n.).2

adviser (n.)

1610s, "one who gives advice," agent noun from advise (v.). The meaning "faculty assigned to mentor students" is from 1887. The meaning "military person sent to help a government or army in a foreign country" is recorded from 1915. Alternative form, Latinate advisor, is perhaps a back-formation from advisory.ETD adviser (n.).2

advisability (n.)

"quality of being advisable or expedient," 1778 (in a letter from George Washington at Valley Forge), from advisable + -ity. Advisableness is from 1731.ETD advisability (n.).2

advisable (adj.)

1640s, ""prudent, expedient, proper to be advised," from advise (v.) + -able (q.v.). It also can mean "open to advice" (1660s), but this is rare.ETD advisable (adj.).2

advisory (adj.)

1778, "having the power to advise;" see advise + -ory. The noun meaning "weather warning" is from 1936, used by U.S. agencies, probably short for advisory bulletin.ETD advisory (adj.).2

advocate (v.)

"plead in favor of," 1640s, from advocate (n.) or from Latin advocatus, past participle of advocare. Related: Advocated; advocating.ETD advocate (v.).2

advocation (n.)

"a calling in of legal assistance," 1520s, from Latin advocationem (nominative advocatio) "a calling or summoning of legal assistance," in Medieval Latin "duty of defense or protection," noun of action from past-participle stem of advocare "to call, summon, invite; call to aid," from ad "to" (see ad-) + vocare "to call," which is related to vox (genitive vocis) "voice" (from PIE root *wekw- "to speak").ETD advocation (n.).2

advocate (n.)

mid-14c., "one whose profession is to plead cases in a court of justice," a technical term from Roman law, from Old French avocat "barrister, advocate, spokesman," from Latin advocatus "one called to aid (another); a pleader (on one's behalf), advocate," noun use of past participle of advocare "to call (as witness or adviser), summon, invite; call to aid; invoke," from ad "to" (see ad-) + vocare "to call," which is related to vox (genitive vocis) "voice" (from PIE root *wekw- "to speak").ETD advocate (n.).2

Also in Middle English as "one who intercedes for another," and "protector, champion, patron." Feminine forms advocatess, advocatrice were in use in 15c.; advocatrix is from 17c. Old English glossed Latin advocatus with þingere (see thing).ETD advocate (n.).3

advocacy (n.)

"the act of pleading for, supporting, or recommending," late 14c., from Old French avocacie "profession of an avocat" (14c.), from Medieval Latin advocatia, abstract noun from Latin advocat-, stem of advocare "to call, summon, invite" (see advocate (n.)).ETD advocacy (n.).2

advowson (n.)

"right of presentation to an ancient benefice," c. 1300, from Anglo-French advouison, Old French avoeson, from Latin advocationem (see advocation).ETD advowson (n.).2

adware (n.)

2000 (earlier as the name of a software company), "software that automatically displays or downloads advertising," from ad (n.) + -ware, abstracted from software, etc.ETD adware (n.).2

adze (n.)

also adz, "cutting tool used for dressing timber, resembling an axe but with a curved blade at a right-angle to the handle," 18c. spelling modification of ads, addes, from Middle English adese, adse, from Old English adesa "adze, hatchet," which is of unknown origin. Adze "has been monosyllabic only since the seventeenth century. The word has no cognates, though it resembles the names of the adz and the hammer in many languages" [Liberman, 2008]. Perhaps somehow related to Old French aisse, Latin ascia "axe" (see axe).ETD adze (n.).2

ae

see æ. As a word, it can represent Old English æ "law," especially law of nature or God's law; hence "legal custom, marriage," from Proto-Germanic *aiwi- (cognate with Old High German ewa, Old Saxon eo), according to Buck probably literally "way, manner, custom," from PIE *ei- "to go," but Boutkan (2005) finds it to be of no certain Indo-European etymology.ETD ae.2

-ae

occasional plural suffix of words ending in -a (see a- (1)), most of which, in English, are from Latin nominative fem. singular nouns (or Greek ones brought up through Latin), which in Latin form their plurals in -ae. But plurals in native -s were established early in English for many of them (such as idea, arena) and many have crossed over since. Purity now would only breed monsters.ETD -ae.2

AEF

also A.E.F., abbreviation of American Expeditionary Force, the U.S. military force sent to Europe in 1917 during World War I.ETD AEF.2

Aegean

sea between Greece and Asia Minor, 1570s, traditionally named for Aegeus, father of Theseus, who threw himself to his death in it when he thought his son had perished; but perhaps from Greek aiges "waves," a word of unknown origin.ETD Aegean.2

aegis (n.)

"protection," 1793, a figurative use of Latin aegis, from Greek Aigis, the name of the shield of Zeus, a word said by Herodotus to be related to aix (genitive aigos) "goat," from PIE *aig- "goat" (source also of Sanskrit ajah, Lithuanian ožys "he-goat"), as the shield was of goatskin. Athene's aigis was a short goat-skin cloak, set with a gorgon's head and fringed with snakes. The exact use and purpose of it is not now clear.ETD aegis (n.).2

Aegina

island in the Saronic Gulf, Latinized form of Greek Aigina, which also was the name of a nymph beloved by Zeus. Related: Aeginetan.ETD Aegina.2

aegrotat (n.)

certificate that a student is ill, Latin, literally "he is sick," third person singular of aegrotare "to be sick," from aeger "sick."ETD aegrotat (n.).2

aegyo sal (n.)

the puff of skin under the eyes, by 2015, from Korean, literally "cute(ness) flesh" from aegyo “cuteness” + sal “skin, meat, fat, flesh.”ETD aegyo sal (n.).2

Aeneas

hero of the "Aeneid," son of Anchises and Aphrodite, Latin, from Greek Aineias, a name of unknown origin, perhaps literally "praise-worthy," from ainos "tale, story, saying, praise" (related to enigma); or perhaps related to ainos "horrible, terrible." The epic poem title Aeneid (late 15c. in English) is literally "of or pertaining to Aeneas," from French Enéide, Latin Æneida; see -id.ETD Aeneas.2

Aeolian (adj.)

also Aeolean, c. 1600, "of the wind," from Latin Æolus "god of the winds," from Greek Aiolos "lord of the winds," literally "the Rapid," or "the Changeable," from aiolos "quickly moving," also "changeful, shifting, varied" (an adjective used of wasps, serpents, flickering stars, clouds, sounds).ETD Aeolian (adj.).2

The Aeolian harp (the phrase is attested from 1791) was made of tuned strings set in a frame; passing breezes caused them to sound harmoniously. Another name for it was anemochord (1832). The ancient district of Aiolis in Asia Minor was said to have been named for the wind god, hence Aeolian also refers to one branch of the ancient Greek people.ETD Aeolian (adj.).3

Aeolus

Greek god of the winds, literally "the Rapid" or "the Changeable," from Greek aiolos (see Aeolian).ETD Aeolus.2

aeon (n.)

"immeasurable period of time," 1640s; see eon; also see æ (1).ETD aeon (n.).2

aerator (n.)

"a blower," also "an apparatus for forcing air or carbon dioxide into water or other liquids," 1861, agent noun from aerate (v.).ETD aerator (n.).2

aerate (v.)

"cause to mix with carbonic acid or other gas," 1794 (implied in aerated), from aer/aër (used in old science for specific kinds of air, a sense later given to gas (n.1)), from Latin aer (see air (n.1)) + verbal suffix -ate (2). The meaning "expose to air" is from 1799, probably a back-formation from aeration. Related: Aerating.ETD aerate (v.).2

aeration (n.)

1570s, "act of exposing to air," from French aération, noun of action from aérer (v.), from Latin aer "the air, atmosphere" (see air (n.1)). In some cases, from aerate. In early scientific writing, aer/aër was used for specific kinds of air, a sense later given to gas (n.1).ETD aeration (n.).2

aerie (n.)

"eagle's nest," 1580s (attested in Anglo-Latin from early 13c.), from Old French aire "nest," Medieval Latin area "nest of a bird of prey" (12c.), perhaps from Latin area "level ground, garden bed" [Littré], though some doubt this [Klein]. Another theory connects it to atrium. Formerly spelled eyrie (1660s) on the mistaken assumption that it derived from Middle English ey "egg."ETD aerie (n.).2

aerial (n.)

1902, short for aerial antenna, etc.ETD aerial (n.).2

aerial (adj.)

also aërial, c. 1600, "pertaining to the air," from Latin aerius "airy, aerial, lofty, high" (from Greek aerios "of the air, pertaining to air," from aēr "air;" see air (n.1)). With adjectival suffix -al (1). Also in English "consisting of air," hence, figuratively, "of a light and graceful beauty; insubstantial" (c. 1600). From 1915 as "by means of aircraft." From the Latin collateral form aereus comes the alternative English spelling aereal.ETD aerial (adj.).2

aero-

word-forming element meaning "air, atmosphere; gases," in 20c. use with reference to aircraft or aviation, from Greek aēr (genitive aeros) "air, lower atmosphere" (see air (n.1)).ETD aero-.2

aerobic (adj.)

"able to live or living only in the presence of oxygen, requiring or using free oxygen from the air," 1875, after French aérobie (n.), coined 1863 by Louis Pasteur in reference to certain bacteria; from Greek aero- "air" (see aero-) + bios "life" (from PIE root *gwei- "to live"). Aerobian and aerobious also were used in English. Hence aerobe "type of micro-organism which lives on oxygen from the air." The meaning "pertaining to aerobics is from 1968.ETD aerobic (adj.).2

aerobics (n.)

method of exercise and a fad in early 1980s, American English, coined 1968 by U.S. physician Kenneth H. Cooper (b. 1931), from aerobic (also see -ics) on the notion of activities which require modest oxygen intake and thus can be maintained.ETD aerobics (n.).2

aerobatics (n.)

"aircraft tricks, trick flying," 1914, from aero- + ending from acrobatics. Earlier (1879) it meant "the art of constructing and using airships; aerial navigation; aeronautics."ETD aerobatics (n.).2

aerodonetics (n.)

science of gliding, 1907, Modern Latin coinage by English engineer Frederick W. Lanchester (1868-1946) from Greek aēr (genitive aeros) "air" (see air (n.1)) + stem of donein "to shake, drive about," for which Beekes gives no etymology. Also see -ics.ETD aerodonetics (n.).2

aerodrome (n.)

1902, "hangar for airships," from aero- on analogy of hippodrome. From 1909 as "airport." Earlier (1891) a name for a flying machine, from Greek aerodromos "a running through the air."ETD aerodrome (n.).2

aerodynamic (adj.)

also aero-dynamic, "pertaining to the forces of air in motion," 1847; see aero- + dynamic (adj.). Compare German aerodynamische (1835), French aérodynamique.ETD aerodynamic (adj.).2

aerodynamics (n.)

"science of the motion of air or other gases," 1837, from aero- "air" + dynamics.ETD aerodynamics (n.).2

aerofoil (n.)

"lifting surface of an aircraft, etc.," 1907, from aero- + foil (n.).ETD aerofoil (n.).2

aerogram (n.)

also aerogramme, 1899, "message sent through the air" (by radio waves, i.e. "wireless telegraphy"), from aero- + -gram. From 1920 as "air-mail letter."ETD aerogram (n.).2

aeronautics (n.)

1824, "art of aerial navigation by means of a balloon," from aeronautic (1784), from French aéronautique, from aéro- (see aero-) + nautique "of ships," from Latin nauticus, from Greek nautikos "pertaining to sailing" (see nautical). Also see -ics. Aeronaut "balloonist" is from 1784, from French aéronaute.ETD aeronautics (n.).2

aerophobia (n.)

"morbid dread of a current of air," 1785; see aero- + phobia.ETD aerophobia (n.).2

aerophyte (n.)

"plant which lives exclusively on air," 1838, perhaps via French aerophyte, from aero- "air" + -phyte "plant."ETD aerophyte (n.).2

aeroplane (n.)

1866, originally in reference to surfaces such as shell casings of beetle wings, from French aéroplane (1855), from Greek-derived aero- "air" (see air (n.1)) + stem of French planer "to soar," from Latin planus "level, flat" (from PIE root *pele- (2) "flat; to spread").ETD aeroplane (n.).2

The word was later extended to the wing of a heavier-than-air flying machine. The use of the word in reference to the machine itself is first attested 1873 and probably is an independent coinage in English. Also see airplane. Ancient Greek had a word aeroplanos, but it meant "wandering in the air," from planos "wandering" (see planet).ETD aeroplane (n.).3

aerosol (n.)

"substance enclosed under pressure and able to be released as a fine spray," 1919, from aero- "air" + first syllable in solution, in the chemical sense. A term in physics; modern commercial application is from 1940s.ETD aerosol (n.).2

aerospace (adj.)

also aero-space, "of or pertaining to the atmosphere and outer space," 1958, American English, from aero- "atmosphere" + (outer) space (n.).ETD aerospace (adj.).2

Aeschylus

Greek Aiskhylos (525-456 B.C.E.), Athenian soldier, poet, and playwright, Father of Tragedy. The inscription on his tomb, said to have been written by him, mentions nothing of his fame as a poet but boasts that he had fought at Marathon. The name is said to be originally a nickname, "Little Ugly," a diminutive of aiskhos "ugly, ill-favored" (also "morally base, shameful"). Related: Aeschylean.ETD Aeschylus.2

Aesculapius

Greek god of medicine, a Latinized form of Greek Aisklepios. Related: Aesculapian.ETD Aesculapius.2

Aesir

collective name for the chief gods of the pagan Scandinavian religion, from Old Norse plural of āss "god," from Proto-Germanic *ansu- (source also of Old High German ansi, Old English os, Gothic ans "god"), from PIE root *ansu- "spirit" (source also of first element in Ahura Mazda (q.v.)).ETD Aesir.2

Aesop

Latinized form of Greek Aisopos, semi-legendary 6c. B.C.E. fablist. He was reputedly a slave, and very ugly; his stories were known to Herodotus and Aristophanes, but no direct writing of his survives.ETD Aesop.2

Aesopic (adj.)

1927, in the context of Soviet literary censorship; in reference to writing, "obscure or ambiguous, often allegorical, and disguising dissent;" from Aesop, the traditional father of the allegorical fable, + -ic. It translates Russian ezopovskii (1875), which arose there under the Tsars. In the empire the style was employed by Russian communists, who, once they took power, found themselves disguised in animal fables written by their own dissidents. In the sense "pertaining to the ancient Greek fable-writer Aesop," Aesopian is attested in English from 1875; it is recorded from 1950 in general reference to shrouding of real meaning to avoid censorship.ETD Aesopic (adj.).2

aesthete (n.)

"person of advanced and fine artistic sensibilities," attested from 1878, in vogue 1881, from Greek aisthētēs "one who perceives," from stem of aisthanesthai "to perceive (by the senses or by the mind), to feel," from PIE *awis-dh-yo-, from root *au- "to perceive." Or perhaps it is from aesthetic on the model of athlete/athletic. The idea is somewhat older than the word. Aesthetician "professor of taste" is from 1829; aestheticist is from 1868.ETD aesthete (n.).2

aesthetic (n.)

1798, from German Ästhetisch (mid-18c.) or French esthétique (which is from German), ultimately from Greek aisthetikos "of or for perception by the senses, perceptive," of things, "perceptible," from aisthanesthai "to perceive (by the senses or by the mind), to feel," from PIE *awis-dh-yo-, from root *au- "to perceive."ETD aesthetic (n.).2

Popularized in English by translations of Kant and used originally in the classically correct sense "science which treats of the conditions of sensuous perception" [OED]. Kant had tried to reclaim the word after Alexander Baumgarten had taken it in German to mean "criticism of taste" (1750s), but Baumgarten's sense attained popularity in English c. 1830s (despite scholarly resistance) and freed the word from philosophy.ETD aesthetic (n.).3

Walter Pater used it (1868) to describe the late 19c. movement that advocated "art for art's sake," which further blurred the sense. [Whewell had proposed callesthetics for "the science of the perception of the beautiful."]ETD aesthetic (n.).4

As an adjective by 1798 "of or pertaining to sensual perception;" 1821 as "of or pertaining to appreciation of the beautiful." Related: Aesthetically.ETD aesthetic (n.).5

aesthetics (n.)

1803, from aesthetic (adj.); also see -ics.ETD aesthetics (n.).2

aestheticism (n.)

"devotion to what is sensuously beautiful," 1855, from aesthetic + -ism.ETD aestheticism (n.).2

aet.

"aged (some number of years)," abbreviation of Latin aetatis "of the age of," genitive singular of aetas "age" (see age (n.)). "Chiefly used in classic or scholarly epitaphs or obituaries" [Century Dictionary].ETD aet..2

aetio-

word-forming element used in chemistry and indicating "a fundamental degradation product of a complex organic compound" [Flood], from Latinized combining form of Greek aitia "a cause, an origin" (see etiology). In older, general use it has been reduced in English to etio- (see æ (1)).ETD aetio-.2

afanc (n.)

cattle-devouring aquatic monster in Celtic countries, from Celtic *abankos "water-creature," from *ab- "water" (source also of Welsh afon, Breton aven "river," Latin amnis "stream, river," which is believed to be of Italo-Celtic origin), from PIE root *ap- (2) "water" (see water (n.1)).ETD afanc (n.).2

afar (adv.)

"from far, from a distance," a contraction of Middle English of feor (late 12c.), on ferr (c. 1300), from Old English feor "far" (see far); the a- (1) in compounds representing both of and on (which in this use meant the same). Spelled afer in 14c.ETD afar (adv.).2

afeared (adj.)

Old English afæred, past participle of now-obsolete afear (Old English afæran) "terrify, cause to fear," from a- (1) + færan (see fear (v.)). Used frequently by Shakespeare, but supplanted in literary English after 1700 by afraid (q.v.), to which it has no connection. It survived in popular speech and colloquial writing.ETD afeared (adj.).2

affability (n.)

"readiness to be sociable or to converse," late 15c., from Old French affabilité (14c.), noun of quality from affable (see affable).ETD affability (n.).2

affable (adj.)

of persons, "open to conversation or approach," late 15c., from Old French affable "benign, approachable" (14c.), from Latin affabilis "approachable, courteous, kind, friendly," literally "who can be (easily) spoken to," from affari "to speak to," from ad "to" (see ad-) + fari "to speak" (from PIE root *bha- (2) "to speak, tell, say"). Related: Affably. Glossed in Old English as wordwynsum.ETD affable (adj.).2