Etymology of Statistical and Probabilistic Terms

Fritz Scholz 9/06/2013 The following etymologies for statistical terms were mainly extracted/modified from http://www.etymonline.com/ unless otherwise attri uted! e"g"! #$i%i&edia'" (y interest in ma%ing this collection was triggered y loo%ing u& the etymology of the common )nglish word *a+erage!, which is -uite different from the corres&onding .erman term */urchschnitt, #cut through'" 0nother early exam&le was the term *sam&le", For many terms the origins are -uite o +ious for anyone with a 1atin or .ree% education" The selections of terms are o +ious in some cases! ut others may seem far afield" Some terms only ma%e a &ro&er connection in com ination with other terms! e"g"! alternati+e together with hy&othesis" For some terms! 2 am still loo%ing for good references to -uote! these are entered ut mar%ed y 333 0ny suggestions for further terms are welcome" Aggregate aggregate c.1400, from L. aggregatus "associated," lit. "united in a flock," pp. of aggregare "add to," from ad- "to" + gregare "herd," so "to lead to a flock" (see gregarious). Alternative alternate (adj.) 1513, from L. alternus "one after the other," pp. of alternare "to do first one thing, then the other," from alternus "e er! other," from alter "the other" (see alter). "he er# is recorded from 15$$% the noun meaning "a su#stitute" is first attested 1&4&. Alternative 'ith the counter(culture sense of "#etter than the esta#lishment" is attested from 1$)0, originall! 'ith reference to the press. Alternate means "#! turns%" alternative (15$0) means "offering a choice." *oth impl! t'o kinds or things. Ancillary ancillary 1++), "su#ser ient, su#ordinate," from L. ancillaris "relating to maidser ants," dim. of ancilla "handmaid," fem. dim. of anculus "ser ant," lit. "he 'ho #ustles a#out," from root of ambi- "a#out" + ,-. *kwol-o-, from #ase *kwel- "mo e round, turn a#out, #e much a#out" (see cycle).

Attribute attribute (v.)

13$&, from L. attributus, pp. of attribuere "assign to," from ad- "to" + tribuere "assign, gi e, #esto'." "he noun (c.1400) is from L. attributum "an!thing attri#uted," neut. of attributus. Average average (n.) 14$1, "financial loss incurred through damage to goods in transit," from /.0r. avarie, from -t. avaria, a 'ord from 11c. 2editerranean maritime trade. 3ometimes traced to 4ra#ic 'arwariya "damaged merchandise," #ut this ma! #e rather a #orro'ing of the 'ord from the 0ranks. /.5 suggests -t. avere, /.0r. aveir "propert!, goods," from L. habere "to ha e." 2eaning shifted to "e6ual sharing of such loss #! the interested parties." "ransferred sense of "statement of a medial estimate" is first recorded 1)35. "he ad7ecti e is first recorded 1))0% the er# is from 1)+$. "he mathematical e8tension is from 1)55. Bet bet

15$1, pro#a#l! aphetic of abet, or from beet "to make good," from /... btan "make #etter, arouse, stimulate," from ,.9mc. *baitjanan. 0irst surfaced in argot of pett! criminals. "he original notion is perhaps to "impro e" a contest #! 'agering on it. :sed since 1&51 in arious 4mer..ng. slang assertions (cf. you bet "#e assured," 1&5)).

Bias bias

1530, from 2.0r. biasis "slant, o#li6ue," from /.,ro . biais, possi#l! from ;.L. *(e)bigassius, from 9k. e ikarsios "slanting, o#li6ue," from e i"upon" + karsios "o#li6ue." "ransferred sense of "predisposition, pre7udice" is from 15)1. unbiased 1+0), lit., in ref to thro's at #o'ls, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of bias. 0ig. sense of "impartial, unpre7udiced" is recorded from 1+4). alibration caliber 15+), from 2.0r. calibre, ia 3p. or -t., ult. from 4ra#ic !alib "a mold, last," perhaps from 9k. kalo odion "a shoemaker<s last," lit. "little 'ooden foot," from kalon "'ood" + odos gen. of ous "foot" (see foot). 4ra#ic also used the 'ord in the sense "mold for casting #ullets," 'hich is the original lit. meaning in .ng., though the earliest cited sense is the fig. one of "social standing, 6ualit!, rank." "alibrate is attested from 1&+4. ategorical category 15&&, from 2.0r. cat#gorie, from L.L. categoria, from 9k. kategorein "to accuse, assert, predicate," from kata "do'n to," + agoreuein "to declaim

(in the assem#l!)," from agora "pu#lic assem#l!." /riginal sense of "accuse" 'eakened to "assert, name" #! the time 4ristotle applied kategoria to his 10 classes of things that can #e named. "ategorical im erative, from the philosoph! of =ant, first recorded 1&1). ensoring/ ensus censor (n.) 1531, >oman magistrate 'ho took censuses and o ersa' pu#lic morals, from L. censere "to appraise, alue, 7udge," from ,-. #ase *kens- "speak solemnl!, announce." "ransferred sense of "officious 7udge of morals and conduct" is from 15$1% of #ooks, pla!s, later films, etc., 1+44. "he er# is from 1&&1. censure c.13)&, from L. censura "7udgment" (see censor). "he er# is first attested 15&$. census 1+13, from L. census, originall! pp. of censere "to assess" (see censor). ertain certain 11$), "determined, fi8ed," from /.0r. certain, from ;.L. *certanus, from L. certus "sure, fi8ed," originall! a ariant pp. of cernere "to distinguish, decide," originall! "to sift, separate" (see crisis). "ertainer, certainest 'ere common to c.1)50, #ut ha e fallen from proper use for some reason. hance chance 11$), from /.0r. cheance "accident, the falling of dice," from ;.L. cadentia "that 'hich falls out," from L. cadentem (nom. cadens), prp. of cadere "to fall" (see case (1)). ?otions of "opportunit!" and "randomness" are e6uall! old in .ng. "he er# meaning "to risk" is from 1&5$. "hancy 'as originall! (1513) "luck!%" sense of "risk!, untrust'orth!" is first recorded 1&+0.

haos chaos

c.1440, "gaping oid," from L. chaos, from 9k. khaos "a#!ss, that 'hich gapes 'ide open, is ast and empt!," from *khnwos, from ,-. #ase *gheu-, *gh(e)i- "to gape" (cf. 9k khaino "- !a'n," /... ginian, /.?. ginnunga-ga $ see yawn). 2eaning "utter confusion" (1+0+) is e8tended from theological use of chaos for "the oid at the #eginning of creation" in ;ulgate ersion of 9enesis. "he 9k. for "disorder" 'as tarakhe, ho'e er the use of chaos here 'as rooted in @esiod (%&heogony%), 'ho descri#es khaos as the prime al emptiness of the :ni erse, #egetter of .re#us and

?!8 ("?ight"), and in / id (%'etamor hoses%), 'ho opposes (haos to (osmos, "the ordered :ni erse." "haotic is from 1)13.

lass/ lassification class 1+01, from 0r. classe, from L. classis, one of the si8 orders into 'hich 3er ius "ullius di ided the >oman people for the purposes of ta8ation, traditionall! originall! "the people of >ome under arms," and thus akin to calare "to call (to arms)" (see calendar). 3chool and uni ersit! sense (1+5+) is from the notion of a form or lecture reser ed to a certain le el of scholars. ?atural histor! sense is from 1)53. 2eaning "a di ision of societ! according to status" is from 1))1. "he er# is first recorded 1)05. "lassy is from 1&$1. "lass-consciousness (1$03) is from 9er. klassenbewusst. luster cluster (n.) /... clyster "cluster," pro#a#l! from the same root as clot. "he er# is from 13$&. clot /... clott, akin to 5u. kloot "#all" (see clod). "he er#, of fluids, is from 15$1. clod /... clod- (in clod-hamer "field(goer"), from ,.9mc. *kludda-, from ,-. *g(e)leu, from #ase *gel- "to make round." 3!non!mous 'ith clot until 1&c. "lodho er "rustic" first attested 1+$0, originall! "plo'man."

oefficient efficient 13$&, "making," from L. e))icientem (nom. e))iciens), prp. of e))icere "'ork out, accomplish" (see effect). 2eaning "producti e, skilled" is from 1)&). *))iciency apartment is first recorded 1$30, 4mer..ng. coefficient 1++5, from co- + e))icient, pro#a#l! influenced #! 2od.L. coe))iciens, used in mathematics 1+c. oin coin (n.) 1304, from /.0r. coigne "a 'edge, cornerstone," from L. cuneus "a 'edge." 5ie for stamping metal 'as 'edge(shaped, and the 'ord came to mean "thing stamped, a piece of mone!" #! c.13&+. "o coin a hrase is c.15$0. "he "cornerstone" sense is no' usuall! !uoin.

ollection/ ollective collective 1510, from the source of collect (6. .). 4s a shortened form of collective )arm (in the :.3.3.>.) it dates from 1$15. "ollectivism in socialist theor! is from 1&&0. "ollective bargaining coined 1&$1 #! *eatrice Ae##% defined in :.3. 1$35 #! the Aagner 4ct. collect 15)3 (trans.), from /.0r. collecter (13)1), from L. collectus, pp. of colligere "gather together," from com- "together" + legere "to gather." "he intrans. sense is attested from 1)$4. "ollection "group of things gathered together" is from 14+0% as "mone! gathered for charita#le or religious purposes" it is attested from 1535. 4s an ad7. meaning "paid #! the recipient" it is attested from 1&$3, originall! 'ith ref. to telegrams. ombination combine c.1440, from 2.0r. combiner, from L.L. combinare "to unite, !oke together," from L. com- "together" + bini "t'o #! t'o," ad . from bi"t'ice." "ombine "machine that cuts, threshes and cleans grain" (short for combine harvester) first attested 1&5). "ombo, :.3. slang shortening of combination, first attested 1$1$. oncomitant concomitant 1+0), from 0r. concomitant, from L. concomitantem, prp. of concomitari "accompan!, attend," from com- "'ith, together" + comitari "7oin as a companion," from comes (gen. comitis) "companion." onditional condition c.1315, from /.0r. condition, from L. condicionem (nom. condicio) "agreement, situation," from condicere "to speak 'ith, talk together," from com- "together" + dicere "to speak" (see diction). . olution of meaning through "stipulation, condition," to "situation, mode of #eing." "he er# meaning "to #ring to a desired condition" is from 1&50. onfidence confidence c.1430, from L. con)identia, from con)identem, prp. of con)idere, from com- intens. prefi8 + )idere "to trust" (see faith). 0or sense of "s'indle" see con (3). "on)idant, 'ith spelling to reflect 0r. pronunciation, first attested 1)14. onfound confound

c.11$0, "discomfit, a#ash, confuse," from 4nglo(0r. con)oundre, from /.0r. con)ondre, from L. con)undere "to confuse," lit. "to pour together," from com- "together" + )undere "to pour" (see found (1)). "he fig. sense of "confuse, fail to distinguish, mi8 up" emerged in L., passed into /.0r. and thence into 2..., 'here it is mostl! found in 3cripture% the sense of "destro! utterl!" is recorded in .ng. from c.1300. "he L. pp., mean'hile, #ecame confuse (6. .). "on)ounded as an e8ecration is first recorded 1+51. ontingency contingent c.13&5, from L. contingentem (nom. contingens) "happening, touching," prp. of contingere "to touch" (see contact). "ontingency "uncertain incident" is from c.1+1+. ontrast contrast (v.) 1+$5, from 0r. contraster, from -t. contrastare "stand out against," from ;.L. *contrastare "to 'ithstand," from L. contra "against" + stare "to stand," from ,-. #ase *sta- "to stand" (see stet). 2... had contrest "to fight against, to 'ithstand," 'hich #ecame e8tinct. 2odern 'ord re( introduced c.1)00 as an art term. ontrol control c.1310, "to check, erif!, regulate," from 4nglo(?orm. contreroller "e8ert authorit!," from 2.L. contrarotulus "a counter, register," from L. contra"against" + rotulus, dim. of rota "'heel" (see roll). 0rom a medie al method of checking accounts #! a duplicate register. 3ense of "dominate, direct" is c.1450. onvolution convolution 1545, from L. convolutus, pp. of convolvere "to roll together," from com"together" + volvere "to roll" orrection correct (v.) 1340, "to set right, rectif!" (a fault or error), from L. correctus, pp. of corrigere "make straight, put right," from com- intens. prefi8 + regere "to lead straight, rule" (see regal). /riginall! of persons% 'ith ref. to 'riting, etc., attested from c.13)4. "he pp. ad7. is recorded from 14+0. +ouse o) correction first recorded 15)5. orrelation correlation

15+1, from 2.0r. corr#lation, from com- "together" + relation (see relation). relation 13$0, from 4nglo(0r. relacioun, /.0r. relacion (14c.), from L. relationem (nom. relatio) "a #ringing #ack, restoring," from relatus (see relate). 2eaning "person related #! #lood or marriage" first attested 1501. ,elationshi "sense of #eing related" is from 1)44% meaning "an affair, a romantic or se8ual relationship" is attested from 1$44. relate 1530, "to recount, tell," from L. relatus, used as pp. of re)erre (see refer), from re- "#ack, again" + latus (see oblate (n.)). 2eaning "to esta#lish a relation #et'een" is from 1))1. 3ense of "to feel connected or s!mpathetic to" is attested from 1$50, originall! in ps!cholog! 7argon. ,elated in the sense of "connected #! #lood or marriage" is from 1)01. c.13)4, "to trace #ack, attri#ute, assign," from /.0r. re)erer (14c.), from L. re)erre "to relate, refer," lit. "to carr! #ack," from re- "#ack" + )erre "carr!" (see infer). 2eaning "to commit to some authorit! for a decision" is from 145+% sense of "to direct (someone) to a #ook, etc." is from 1+01. ,e)erral "act of referring" is first recorded 1$34% specific sense of "an act of referring an indi idual to a specialist" is from 1$55. raps craps

refer

1&43, 4mer. .ng., unrelated to the term for e8crement, from Louisiana 0r. cra s, from 0r., corruption of .ng. crabs (see crab), 1&c. slang for "a thro' of t'o or three," 'hich is perhaps from the crab sense in crab a le.

ount count (v.) 1341, from /.0r. conter "add up," #ut also "tell a stor!," from L. com utare (see compute). "ountdown is 1$53, 4mer..ng. ritical critic 15&3, from L. criticus, from 9k. kritikos "a#le to make 7udgments," from krinein "to separate, decide." "he .ng. 'ord al'a!s had o ertones of "censurer, faultfinder." "ritical in this sense is from 15$0% meaning "of the nature of a crisis" is 1+4$ (see crisis). umulative cumulative 1+05, from L. cumulatus, pp. of cumulare "to heap," from cumulus "heap" (see cumulus).

!ata data 1+4+, pl. of datum, from L. datum "(thing) gi en," neuter pp. of dare "to gi e" (see date (1)). 2eaning "transmitta#le and stora#le computer information" first recorded 1$4+. -ata rocessing is from 1$54. -atabase formed 1$+1, from data + base.

!ecision decide c.13&0, from /.0r. decider, from L. decidere "to decide," lit. "to cut off," from de- "off" + cdere "to cut" (see cement). 3ense is of resol ing difficulties "at a stroke." /riginall! "to settle a dispute%" meaning "to make up one<s mind" is attested from 1&30. -ecided in the ad7. sense of "resolute" is from 1)$0. -ecisive is 1+11. 4 decided ictor! is one 'hose realit! is not in dou#t% a decisive one goes far to'ard settling some issue. !eductive deduce 1410, from L. deducere "lead do'n, deri e" (in 2.L. "infer logicall!"), from de- "do'n" + ducere "to lead" (see duke). /riginall! literal, sense of "dra' a conclusion from something alread! kno'n" is first recorded 151$, from 2.L. deduct 141$, from L. deductus, pp. of deducere "lead do'n, #ring a'a!%" see deduce, 'ith 'hich it formerl! 'as interchangea#le. "echnicall!, deduct refers to taking a'a! portions or amounts% subtract to taking a'a! num#ers. !ependent/"ndependent depend 1413, "to #e attached to as a condition or cause," fig. use, from 2.0r. de endre "to hang from, hang do'n," from L. de endere, from de- "from, do'n" + endere "to hang, #e suspended" (see pendant). -e endence 'as spelled -ance from time of #orro'ing from 0r. c.1400 until respelling c.1&00 #! influence of Latin% de endant (1513) usuall! retains the 0r. form. -e endable is from 1)35. !esign design 154&, from L. designare "mark out, de ise," from de- "out" + signare "to mark," from signum "a mark, sign." /riginall! in .ng. 'ith the meaning no' attached to designate (1+4+, from L. designatus, pp. of designare)% man! modern uses of design are metaphoric e8tensions. -esigner (ad7.) in the fashion sense of "prestigious" is first recorded 1$++% designer drug is

from 1$&3. -esigning "scheming" is from 1+)1. -esignated hitter introduced in 4merican League #ase#all in 1$)3, soon gi ing 'ide figurati e e8tension to designated. !eviation/deviate deviant c.1400 (ad7.), from L.L. deviantem, prp. of deviare "turn aside," from L. phrase de via, from de "off" + via "'a!." "he noun, in the se8ual sense, is attested from 1$51% also deviate (n.), recorded since 1$4). "he er# deviate (c.1+33) is from the L. pp. stem. -eviation in the statistical sense is first attested 1&5&. !iagram diagram (n.) 1+1$, from 0r. diagramme, from L. diagramma, from 9k. diagramma (gen. diagrammatos) "that 'hich is marked out #! lines," from diagra hein "mark out #! lines, delineate," from dia- "across, out" + gra hein "'rite, mark, dra'." "he er# is 1&40, from the noun. !ie/!ice die (n.) c.1330 (as a plural), from /.0r. de, of uncertain origin, perhaps from L. datum "gi en," pp. of dare (see date (1)), 'hich, in addition to "gi e," had a secondar! sense of "to pla!" (as a chess piece)% or else from "'hat is gi en" (#! chance or 0ortune). 3ense of "stamping #lock or tool" first recorded 1+$$. dice c.1330, des, dys, pl. of dy (see die (n.)), altered 14c. to dyse, dyce, and 15c. to dice. "4s in ence, the plural s retains its original #reath sound, pro#a#l! #ecause these 'ords 'ere not felt as ordinar! plurals, #ut as collecti e 'ords" B/.5C. 3ometimes used as sing. 1400(1)00. "he . "to cut into cu#es" is first recorded c.13$0. -icey "dou#tful, difficult" is >40 slang from the 1$40s.

!igit digit 13$&, from L. digitus "finger or toe," related to dicere "tell, sa!, point out" (see diction). ?umerical sense is #ecause numerals under ten 'ere counted on fingers. -igital (1+5+) is first recorded 1$45 in reference to computers, 1$+0 of recording or #roadcasting. !imension dimension 1413, from L. dimensionem (nom. dimensio), from stem of dimetri "to measure out," from dis- + metri "to measure."

!iscrete discrete 13$&, see discreet. discreet 1340, from /.0r. discret, from L. discretus "separated, distinct," in 2.L. "discerning, careful," from pp. of discernere "distinguish" (see discern). 3pellings discrete and nati iDed discreet co(e8isted until after c.1+00, 'hen discreet #ecame the common 'ord for "careful, prudent," and discrete 'as maintained in philosoph!, medicine, music and other disciplines that remem#ered L. and tried to stick close to it. !iscriminant discriminate 1+1&, from L. discriminare "to di ide," from discrimen, deri ed n. from discernere (see discern). "he ad erse (usuall! racial) sense is first recorded 1&++, 4mer..ng. ,ositi e sense remains in discriminating (ad7.) "possessing discernment" (1)$1). !ispersion disperse c.1450, from 2.0r. dis erser "scatter," from L. dis ersus, pp. of dis ergere "to scatter," from dis- "apart, in e er! direction" + s argere "to scatter" (see sparse). "he L. 'ord is glossed in /... #! tostregdan. !istribution distribution 13&1, from L. distributionem, from distribuere "deal out in portions," from dis- "indi iduall!" + tribuere "assign, allot." !ummy dummy 15$&, "mute person," from dumb (6. .). .8tended #! 1&45 to "figure representing a person." :sed in card games (originall! 'hist) since 1)3+. Efficient See coefficient Empirical empirical 15+$, from L. em iricus, from 9k. em eirikos "e8perienced," from em eiria "e8perience," from em eiros "skilled," from en- "in" + eira "trial, e8periment." /riginall! a school of ancient ph!sicians 'ho #ased their practice on e8perience rather than theor!. Entropy

entropy 1&+&, from 9er. *ntro ie "measure of the disorder of a s!stem," coined 1&+5 (on analog! of 9er. *nergie) #! ph!sicist >udolph Elausius (1&11( 1&&&) from 9k. entro ia "a turning to'ard," from en- "in" + tro e "a turning" (see trope).

Error error

c.1300, from /.0r. errur, from L. errorem (nom. error) "a 'andering, stra!ing, mistake," from errare "to 'ander" (see err). Aords for "error" in most -... languages originall! meant "'ander, go astra!" (#ut -r. dearmad "error," from dermat "a forgetting").

Estimation estimation c.13)4, from /.0r. estimacion, from L. stimationem (nom. stimatio) "a aluation," from stimare "to alue" (see esteem). "he er# estimate is first recorded 1531. Event event 15)3, from 2.0r. event, from L. eventus "occurrence, issue," from evenire "to come out, happen, result," from e.- "out" + venire "to come" (see venue). *ventually "ultimatel!" first recorded c.1+&0% eventuality is 1&1&, originall! "the po'er of o#ser ing in phrenolog!." *vent)ul is from 1+00. *vent hori/on in astroph!sics is from 1$+$. E#pected expect 13$3 (implied in e. ectant), from L. e. ectare "a'ait, hope," from e."thoroughl!" + s ectare "to look," fre6. of s ecere "to look at" (see scope (1)). 0ig. sense of "anticipate, look for'ard to" de eloped in Latin. :sed since 1&1) as a euphemism for "#e pregnant." E#periment experiment 134&, from /.0r. e. eriment, from L. e. erimentum "a trial, test," from e. eriri "to test, tr!" (see experience). "he er# is 14&1, from the noun. E#treme extreme (adj.) c.14+0, from L. e.tremus "outermost, utmost," superl. of e.terus (see exterior). -n .ng. as in L., not al'a!s felt as a superl., hence more e.treme, most e.treme ('hich 'ere condemned #! Fohnson). "he noun is first recorded 154+, originall! of the end of life, cf. L. in e.tremis. "he

deri ed noun e.tremity (from /.0r. e.tremite, from L. e.tremitatem, from e.tremus) is first recorded 13)5, and its meaning remains closer to the et!mological source. $actor factor (n.) 1431, "agent, deput!," from 2.0r. )acteur "agent, representati e," from L. )actor "doer or maker," from )acere "to do" (see factitious). 3ense of "circumstance producing a result" is from 1&1+% the . use in mathematics is attested from 1&3). $ailure fail c.1115, from /.0r. )aillir "#e lacking, miss, not succeed," from ;.L. *)allire, from L. )allere "decei e, #e lacking or defecti e." >eplaced /... abreo0an. "he 4nglo(?orm. form, )ailer, came to #e used as a noun, hence )ailure (1+43). 1ail-sa)e dates from 1$4&. $air fair (adj.) /... )ger "#eautiful, pleasant," from ,.9mc. *)agra/ (cf. /.?. )agr, /.@.9. )agar "#eautiful," 9oth. )agrs "fit"), from ,-. *)ag-. "he meaning in ref. to 'eather (c.1105) preser es the original sense (opposed to )oul). 3ense of "light comple8ioned" (1551) reflects tastes in #eaut!% sense of "free from #ias" (c.1340) e ol ed from another earl! meaning, "morall! pure, un#lemished" (c.11)5). "he sporting senses ()air ball, )air catch etc.) #egan in 1&5+. 1air lay is from 15$5% )air and s!uare is from 1+04. 1airhaired in the fig. sense of "darling, fa orite" is from 1$0$. 1airly in the sense of "some'hat" is from 1&05% it earlier meant "totall!." 1airway (15&4) originall! meant "na igational channel of a ri er%" golfing sense is from 1$10. 0irst record of )air-weather )riends is from 1)3+. $iducial

fiducial
From: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | Date: 1996 | Author: T F !OAD

fiducial 4522" 6 late 1" fdcilis! f" 71" fdcia trust! f" fdere to trust! rel" to fids
FAITH8 see -IAL"

So fiduciary 4522" 6 1" fdcirius"

$it fit (n.1) 1&13, "the fitting of one thing to another," later (1&31) "the 'a! something fits." /rigin o#scure, possi#l! from /... )itt "a conflict, a struggle" (see fit (n.1)). fit (n.2)

"paro8!sm, sudden attack" (as of anger), 154), pro#a#l! ia 2... sense of "painful, e8citing e8perience," from /... )itt "conflict, struggle," of uncertain origin, 'ith no clear cognates outside .ng. ,hrase by )its and starts first attested 1+10. 1it)ul 'as used once #! 3hakespeare ("2ac#eth" iii.1) in sense of "characteriDed #! fits," then re i ed #! 3cott (1&10) 'ith a sense of "shifting, changing." $luctuation fluctuation c.1450, from L. )luctuationem (nom. )luctuatio), from )luctuare "to undulate," from )luctus "'a e," from pp. of )luere "to flo'" (see fluent). 1luctuate is from 1+34. $re%uency/fre%uent frequent 1531, from L. )re!uentem (nom. )re!uens) "cro'ded, repeated," of uncertain origin. "he . (14))) is from L. )re!uentare " isit regularl!." 1re!uency (1551) came to #e used 1&31 in ph!sics for "rate of recurrence," especiall! of a i#ration. -n radio electronics, )re!uency modulation (1$11, a##re iated 1.'.) as a s!stem of #roadcasting is distinguished from am litude modulation (or A.'.). &ame game (n.) /... gamen "7o!, fun, amusement," common 9mc. (cf. /.0ris. game, /.?. gaman, /.@.9. gaman "7o!, glee"), regarded as identical 'ith 9oth. gaman "participation, communion," from ,.9mc. *ga- collecti e prefi8 + *mann "person," gi ing a sense of "people together." 2eaning "contest pla!ed according to rules" is first attested c.1300. 3ense of "'ild animals caught for sport" is c.11$0% hence )air game (1&15), also gamey "ha ing the fla or of game" (1&+3). 4d7ecti e sense of "#ra e, spirited" is 1)15, from the noun, especiall! in game-cock "#ird for fighting." 2ame lan is 1$41, from :.3. foot#all% game show first attested 1$+1.

&raph/graphic graphic 1+10, "traced" (implied in gra hical), from L. gra hicus "pictures6ue," from 9k. gra hikos "of or for 'riting, #elonging to dra'ing, pictures6ue," from gra he "'riting, dra'ing," from gra hein "'rite," originall! "to scratch" on cla! ta#lets 'ith a st!lus. 2eaning "of or pertaining to dra'ing" is from 1)5+% that of " i id" is from 1++$, on the notion of 'ords that produce the effect of a picture. 'andicap

handicap c.1+53, from hand in ca , a game 'here#! t'o #ettors 'ould engage a neutral umpire to determine the odds in an une6ual contest. "he #ettors 'ould put their hands holding forfeit mone! into a hat or cap. "he umpire 'ould announce the odds and the #ettors 'ould 'ithdra' their hands (( hands full meaning that the! accepted the odds and the #et 'as on, hands empt! meaning the! did not accept the #et and 'ere 'illing to forfeit the mone!. -f one forfeited, then the mone! 'ent to the other. -f #oth agreed on either forfeiting or going ahead 'ith the 'ager, then the umpire kept the mone! as pa!ment. "he custom, though not the name, is attested from 14c. >eference to horse racing is 1)54 (+andy-"a 'atch), 'here the umpire decrees the superior horse should carr! e8tra 'eight as a "handicap%" this led to sense of "encum#rance, disa#ilit!" first recorded 1&$0. "he er# sense of "e6ualiDe chances of competitors" is first recorded 1&51, #ut is implied in the horse(race sense. 2eaning "put at a disad antage" is 1&+4. "he main modern sense, "disa#ilit!," is the last to de elop% handica ed (ad7.) is 1$15. 'a(ard hazard 11+), from /.0r. hasard "game of chance pla!ed 'ith dice," possi#l! from 3p. a/ar "an unfortunate card or thro' at dice," 'hich is said to #e from 4ra#ic a/-/ahr (for al-/ahr) "the die." *ut this is dou#tful #ecause of the a#sence of /ahr in classical 4ra#ic dictionaries. =lein suggests 4ra#ic yasara "he pla!ed at dice%" 4ra#ic -s- regularl! #ecomes 3p. -/-. "he -d 'as added in 0r. in confusion 'ith the nati e suffi8 -ard. 3ense of "chance of loss or harm, risk," first recorded 154&% the er# sense of "put something at stake in a game of chance" is from 1530. +a/ardous in the sense of "perilous" is from 1+1&.

'istogram histogram The "ord histogram is deri#ed from Greek: histos $anything set u%right$ &as the masts of a shi%' the (ar of a loom' or the #ertical (ars of a histogram)* gramma $dra"ing' record' "riting$ &+i,i%edia) 'omogeneous/'omogeneity homogeneous 1+41, from 2.L. homogeneus, from 9k. homogenes "of the same kind," from homos "same" (see same) + genos "kind, gender, race, stock" (see genus). .arlier in this sense 'as homogeneal (1+03). +omogeni/e "make similar" formed in .ng. 1&&+% its sense of "render milk uniform in consistenc!" is from 1$04. 'ypothesis

hypothesis 15$+, from 2.0r. hy othese, from L.L. hy othesis, from 9k. hy othesis "#ase, #asis of an argument, supposition," lit. "a placing under," from hy o- "under" + thesis "a placing, proposition." 4 term in logic% narro'er scientific sense is 1+4+% hy othetical is 15&&. "ndicator/"nde# index 13$&, "the forefinger," from L. inde. (gen. indicis) "forefinger, pointer, sign, list," lit. "an!thing 'hich points out," from indicare "point out" (see indicate). 2eaning "list of a #ook<s contents" is first attested 15&0, from L. phrases such as 3nde. 4ominum "-nde8 of ?ames," inde. e. urgatorius "specification of passages to #e deleted from 'orks other'ise permitted." "he er# meaning "compile an inde8" is from 1)10. 3cientific sense (re)ractive inde., etc.) is from 1&1$% economic sense (costo)-living inde., etc.) is after 1&&+. "he Ehurch sense of "for#idden #ooks" is from inde. librorum rohibitorum, first pu#lished 15+4 #! authorit! of ,ius -;. "nductive induce c.13)5, "to lead #! persuasions or other influences," from L. inducere "lead into, persuade," from in- "in" + ducere "to lead" (see duke). 2eaning "to #ring a#out," of concrete situations, etc., is from 1413% sense of "to infer #! reasoning" is from 15+3. .lectro(magnetic sense first recorded 1))). induct c.13)&, from L. inductus, pp. of inducere "to lead" (see induce). /riginall! of church offices% sense of "#ring into militar! ser ice" is 1$34 in 4mer..ng. 3nduction as a term of logic (c.1440) is from L. inductio, used #! Eicero to translate 9k. e agoge "leading to" in 4ristotle% as a term of science, c.1&00. 3nduction starts 'ith kno'n instances and arri es at generaliDations% deduction starts from the general principal and arri es at some indi idual fact. "nference infer 151+, from L. in)erre "#ring into, cause," from in- "in" + )erre "carr!, #ear," from ,-. *bher- "to #ear, to carr!, to take" (cf. 3kt. bharati "carries%" 4 estan baraiti "carries%" /.,ers. barantiy "the! carr!%" 4rmenian berem "- carr!%" 9k. herein "to carr!%" /.-r. beru5berim "catch, - #ring forth%" 9oth. bairan "to carr!%" /..., /.@.9. beran, /.?. bera "#arro'%" /.E.3. birati "to take%" >us. brat' "to take," bremya "a #urden"). 3ense of "dra' a conclusion" is first attested 151$. "nformation information

13&), "act of informing," from /.0r. in)ormacion, from L. in)ormationem (nom. in)ormatio) "outline, concept, idea," noun of action from in)ormare (see inform). 2eaning "kno'ledge communicated" is from c.1450. 3hort form in)o is attested from 1$0+. 3n)o-mercial and in)o-tainment are from 1$&3. "nterpolation interpolate 1+11 (implied in inter olation) "to alter or enlarge (a 'riting) #! inserting ne' material," from L. inter olatus, pp. of inter olare "alter, freshen up, falsif!," from inter- "up" + olare, related to olire "to smoothe, polish." 3ense e ol ed in L. from "refur#ish," to "alter appearance of," to "falsif! (especiall! #! adding ne' material)." "nterval interval c.1300, from /.0r. intervalle (14c.), earlier entreval (13c.), from L.L. intervallum, originall! "space #et'een palisades or ramparts," from inter"#et'een" + vallum "rampart." 2etaphoric sense of "gap in time" 'as present in L. )ag lag (v.) "fail to keep pace," 1530, from earlier ad7. meaning "last" (1514), e.g. lagmon "last man," possi#l! from a 3cand. source (cf. ?or'. lagga "go slo'l!"), or some dialectal ersion of last, lack, or delay. 0irst record of lag time is from 1$5+. 6aggard is from 1)01. )attice lattice 1304, from /.0r. latta "lath," from 0rank. (cf. /.@.9. latta "lath"). 3ee lath. lath /... *la00e, ariant of ltt "lath," apparentl! from ,.9mc. *la77o (cf. /.?. latta, 2.5u., 9er. latte "lath," 2.@.9. lade "plank," 'hich is source of 9er. 6aden "counter," hence, "shop"). )i*ely/)i*elihood likely c.1300, perhaps from /.?. likligr "likel!," from likr "like" (ad7.). /... had cognate geliclic. 2eaning "ha ing the appearance of #eing strong and capa#le" is from 1454, though no' mostl! confined to 4mer..ng. 3ense of "good(looking" is from 14)0. 2eaning "pro#a#l!" is attested from c.13&0, no' principall! in 4mer..ng. )ogistic logistic

logic

"pertaining to logic," 1+1&, from 2.L. logisticus, from 9k. logistikos "pertaining to logic," from logikos (see logic). 13+1, "#ranch of philosoph! that treats of forms of thinking," from /.0r. logi!ue, from L. (ars) logica, from 9k. logike (techne) "reasoning (art)," from fem. of logikos "pertaining to speaking or reasoning," from logos "reason, idea, 'ord" (see logos). 2eaning "logical argumentation" is from 1+01. 6ogical attested 1500 as "pertaining to logic%" 15&& as "conforma#le to la's of reasoning%" 1&+0 as "follo'ing as a reasona#le conse6uence."

)oss lose

/... losian "#e lost, perish," from los "destruction, loss," from ,.9mc. *lausa (cf. /.?. los "the #reaking up of an arm!"), from ,-. #ase *leu- "to loosen, di ide, cut apart, untie, separate" (cf. 3kt. lunati "cuts, cuts off," lavitram "sickle%" 9k. lyein "to loosen, untie, slacken," lysus "a loosening%" L. luere "to loose, release, atone for"). >eplaced related leosan (a class -strong er# 'hose pp. loren sur i es in forlorn and love-lorn), from ,.9mc. *leusanan (cf. /.@.9. virliosan, 9er. verlieren, /.0ris. urliasa, 9oth. )raliusan "to lose"). "ransiti e sense of "to part 'ith accidentall!" is from c.1105. 2eaning "to #e defeated" (in a game, etc.) is from c.1533. "o lose (one's) mind "#ecome insane" is attested from c.1500. "o lose out "fail" is 1&5&, 4mer..ng.

)ot/lottery lot /... hlot "o#7ect (an!thing from dice to stra', #ut often a chip of 'ood 'ith a name inscri#ed on it) used to determine someone<s share," also "'hat falls to a person #! lot," from ,.9mc. *khlutom (cf. /.?. hlutr "lot, share," /.@.9. hlu/ "share of land," /... hleotan "to cast lots, to foretell"), of unkno'n origin. "he o#7ect 'as placed 'ith others in a receptacle, 'hich 'as shaken, the 'inner #eing the one that fell out first. @ence, to cast lots. -n some cases the lots 'ere dra'n #! hand. "he 'ord 'as adopted from 9mc. into the >omanic languages (cf. lottery, lotto). 2eaning "choice resulting from the lasting of lots" first attested c.1105. 3ense of "plot of land" is first recorded 1+33 (distri#ution of the #est propert! in ne' settlements often determined #! casting lot), that of "group, collection" is 1)15, from notion of auction lots. "he generaliDed sense of "great man!" is first attested in 1&11. "o cast (one's) lot with another is to agree to share 'innings. lottery 15+), "arrangement for a distri#ution of priDes #! chance," from -t. lotteria, from same root as /... hlot (see lot). )uc* luck

15c. from 2.5u. luc, shortening of gheluc "happiness, good fortune," of unkno'n origin. >elated to 2.@.9. g(e)l8cke, 9er. 2l8ck "fortune, good luck." ,erhaps first #orro'ed in .ng. as a gam#ling term. 6ucky break dates from 1$3&. "o luck out "succeed through luck" is 4mer..ng. collo6uial, first attested 1$54.

+artingale "he /8ford .nglish 5ictionar! sa!sG 0rench martingale is attested earliest in the phrase chausses a la martingale hose that fasten at the #ack (14$1)% cf. /ccitan #raias H la martegala hose that fasten at the #ack, and -talian martingala (a155+% also 15$& in sense 1 Bthe horse(harnessC), 3panish martingala (151$) in the same sense. "he application ma! arise from a #elief that the inha#itants of 2artigues, a remote to'n, 'ere eccentric and nai e% hence also the application to an apparentl! foolish s!stem of gam#ling. 3ense 1 Bthe ship(riggingC, ho'e er, is pro#. attri#uta#le to the former importance of 2artigues as a port and ship(#uilding centre. 3ense 1 is ariousl! e8plainedG some take as a de elopment from the application to hose (although ?...5. (1$05) holds that the opposite is the case)% 0ranDIsisches .t!mol. AIrter#uch takes this sense as de eloped from nautical uses, in spite of the chronolog! in .nglish and 0rench. 4 deri ation of 2iddle 0rench, 0rench martingale from 3panish almJrtaga, almJrtiga kind of headstall put on horses o er the #it to stead! them 'hen the rider dismounts (1500), pro#. after an 4ra#ic 'ord, is to #e re7ected on formal as 'ell as semantic grounds.C +ean mean (n.) "that 'hich is half'a! #et'een e8tremes," 1330, from /.0r. meien, from L. medianus "of or that is in the middle" (see median). /ldest sense is musical. 3ense of "so(so, mediocre" led to confusion 'ith mean (adj.). 0irst record of means "course of action," is c.13&0% sense of "'ealth" is first recorded 1+03. "his is the mean in meantime (1340), meanwhile (14+4), and by no means (14)1). mean (adj.) "lo'(6ualit!," /... gemne "common, pu#lic, general, uni ersal, shared #! all," from ,.9mc. *ga-maini/ "possessed 7ointl!" (cf. /.0ris. mene, 2.L.9. gemeine, 5u. gemeen, 9er. gemein, 9oth. gamains "common"), from ,-. *ko-moin-i- "held in common," a compound ad7ecti e formed from collecti e prefi8 *ko- "together" (,.9mc. *ga-) + *moi-n-, suffi8ed form of ,-. #ase *mei- "to change, e8change" (see mutable)% cf. second element in common, a 'ord 'hose sense e olution parallels that of mean (adj.). 3ense influenced #! mean (n.). 2eaning "inferior, poor" emerged c.1300% that of "sting!, nast!" first recorded 1++5% 'eaker sense of

"diso#liging, pettil! offensi e" is from 1&3$, originall! 4mer..ng. slang. -n erted sense of "remarka#l! good" (i.e. lays a mean sa.o hone) first recorded c.1$00, also in phrase no mean 9999999 "not inferior" (15$+, also, "not a erage," reflecting further confusion 'ith mean (n.)). 'eanie "cruel person" is from 1$1). +easurement measure (v.) c.1300, from /.0r. mesurer, from L.L. mensurare "to measure," from L. mensura "a measuring, a thing to measure #!," from mensus, pp. of metiri "to measure," from ,-. *ma-5*me- "measure" (see meter (1)). >eplaced /... cognate m0 "measure." "he noun also is attested from c.1300. 2eaning "treatment <meted out< to someone" is from 15$3% that of "plan or course of action intended to o#tain some goal" is from 1+$&% sense of "legislati e enactment" is from 1)5$. "o measure u "ha e the necessar! a#ilities" is 1$10, 4mer..ng. ,hrase )or good measure (13&1) is lit. "ample in 6uantit!, in goods sold #! measure." +edian median 15$1, from 2.0r. m#dian, from L. medianus "of the middle," from medius "middle" (see medial). /riginall! anatomical, of eins, arteries, ner es% mathematical sense "middle num#er of a series" first recorded 1$01% median stri "strip #et'een lanes of a high'a!" is from 1$54. +ode mode (2) "current fashion," c.1+45, from 0r. mode, from L. modus "manner" (see mode (:)). mode (1) "manner," c.13)4, "kind of musical scale," from L. modus "measure, rh!thm, song, manner" (in L.L. also "mood" in grammar and logic), from ,-. #ase *med-5*met- "to measure, limit, consider, ad ise, take appropriate measures" (cf. L. meditari "to think or reflect upon, consider," mederi "to look after, heal, cure%" /... metan "to measure out," 9k. medein "to rule"). 2eaning "manner in 'hich a thing is done" first recorded 1++). +odel model 15)5, "architect<s set of designs," from 2.0r. modelle (0r. mod;le), from -t. modello "a model, mold," from ;.L. *modellus, dim. of L. modulus "measure, standard," dim. of modus "manner, measure" (see mode (:)). 3ense of "thing or person to #e imitated" is 1+3$. 2eaning "motor ehicle of a particular design" is from 1$00 (e.g. 'odel &, 1$0$). 3ense of "artist<s model" is first recorded 1+$1% that of "fashion model" is from 1$04. "he

er# is 1++5 in the sense of "fashion in cla! or 'a8%" 1$15 in the sense "to act as a model, to displa! (clothes)." "he ad7. is 1&44, from the noun.

+oment moment 1340, " er! #rief portion of time, instant," in moment o) time, from /.0r. moment, from L. momentum "mo ement, mo ing po'er," also "instant, importance," contraction of *movimentum, from movere "to mo e" (see move). 3ome (#ut not /...5.) e8plain the sense e olution of the L. 'ord #! notion of a particle so small it 'ould 7ust "mo e" the pointer of a scale, 'hich led to the transf. sense of "minute time di ision." 3ense of "importance, <'eight< " is attested in .ng. from 1511. 'omentous formed 1+5+ in .ng., to carr! the sense of "important" 'hile momentary (151+) kept the meaning "of an instant of time." ,hrase never a dull moment first recorded 1&&$ in Ferome =. Ferome<s %&hree 'en in a <oat.% ,hrase moment o) truth first recorded 1$31 in @eming'a!<s %-eath in the A)ternoon,% from 3p. el momento de la verdad, the final s'ord(thrust in a #ull(fight. momentum 1+$$, "6uantit! of motion of a mo ing #od!," from L. momentum "mo ement, mo ing po'er" (see moment). 0ig. use dates from 1)&1. ,oise noise

c.1115, "loud outcr!, clamor, shouting," from /.0r. noise "uproar, #ra'l" (in modern 0r. onl! in phrase chercher noise "to pick a 6uarrel"), apparentl! from L. nausea "disgust, anno!ance, discomfort," lit. "seasickness" (see nausea). 4nother theor! traces the /.0r. 'ord to L. no.ia "hurting, in7ur!, damage." /.5 considers that "the sense of the 'ord is against #oth suggestions," #ut nausea could ha e de eloped a sense in ;.L. of "unpleasant situation, noise, 6uarrel" (cf. /.,ro . nau/a "noise, 6uarrel"). >eplaced nati e gedyn (see din).

,umber number 11$), "sum, aggregate of a collection," from 4nglo(0r. noumbre, from /.0r. nombre, from L. numerus "a num#er, 6uantit!," from ,-. #ase *nem- "to di ide, distri#ute, allot" (related to 9k. nemein "to deal out%" see nemesis). 2eaning "s!m#ol or figure of arithmatic alue" is from c.13$1. "he meaning "musical selection" is from aude ille theater programs, 'here acts 'ere marked #! a num#er. "he er# meaning "to count" is from 11$). 4umber one "oneself" is from 1)04 (mock(-t. form numero uno attested from 1$)3)% the #i#lical <ook o) 4umbers (c.1400, L. 4umeri, 9k. Arithmoi) so called #ecause it #egins 'ith a census of the -sraelites. 4o.,

"a##re iation for <num#er,< " is from -t. numero. 3lang number one and number two for "urinate" and "defecate" attested from 1$01. 4umber cruncher is 1$++, of machines% 1$)1, of persons. "o get or have (someone's) number "ha e someone figured out" is attested from 1&53. &he numbers "illegal lotter!" is from 1&$), 4mer..ng. -bservation. observe observe ( v .) late 14c., "to hold to" (a manner of life or course of conduct), from Old French observer, osserver "to observe, watch over, follow" (10c.), from Latin observare "watch over, note, heed, look to, attend to, guard, regard, comply with," from ob "over" (see ob - ) + servare "to watch, keep safe," from PIE root *ser- "to protect." Meaning "to attend to in practice, to keep, follow" is attested from late 14c. Sense of "watch, perceive, notice" is 1560s, via notion of "see and note omens." Meaning "to say by way of remark" is from c.1600. Related: Observed; observing. -dds odds in 'agering sense, found first in 3hakespeare ("1 @enr! -;," 15$)), pro#a#l! from earlier sense of "amount #! 'hich one thing e8ceeds or falls short of another" (154&), from odd (6. .), though the sense e olution is uncertain. 4l'a!s treated as a singular, though o# iousl! a plural (cf. news). c.1300, "constituting a unit in e8cess of an e en num#er," from /.?. oddi "third or additional num#er," as in odda-ma0r "third man, odd man ('ho gi es the casting ote)," odda-tala "odd num#er." /.?. oddi means lit. "point, angle%" related ia notion of "triangle" to oddr "point of a 'eapon," from ,.9mc. *u/da/ "pointed up'ard" (cf. /... ord "point of a 'eapon, spear, source, #eginning," /.0ris. ord "point, place," 5u. oord "place, region," /.@.9. ort "point," 9er. =rt "place"), from ,-. *u/dho- (cf. Lith. us-nis "thistle"). ?one of the other languages, ho'e er, sho's the /.?. de elopment from "point" to "third num#er." :sed from 13&1 to indicate a surplus o er an! gi en sum. 3ense of "strange, peculiar" first attested 15&& from notion of "odd one out, unpaired one of three" (attested earlier, c.1400, as "singular" in a positi e sense of "reno'ned, rare, choice")% oddball "eccentric or uncon entional person" first attested 1$4&. =dd job (c.1))0) is so called from notion of "not regular." =dd lot "incomplete or random set" is from 1&$). "he international order of =dd 1ellows #egan as local social clu#s in .ngland, late 1&c., 'ith 2asonic(t!pe trappings% formall! organiDed 1&13 in 2anchester. -rder

odd

order (n.) c.1115, "#od! of persons li ing under a religious discipline," from /.0r. ordre (11c.), from earlier ordene, from L. ordinem (nom. ordo) "ro', rank, series, arrangement," originall! "a ro' of threads in a loom," from -talic root *ored(h)- "to arrange, arrangement" (cf. ordiri "to #egin to 'ea e," e.g. in rimordial), of unkno'n origin. 2eaning "a rank in the (secular) communit!" is first recorded c.1300% meaning "command, directi e" is first recorded 154&, from the notion of "to keep in order." 2ilitar! and honorar! orders gre' our of the fraternities of Erusader knights. *usiness and commerce sense is attested from 1&3). -n natural histor!, as a classification of li ing things, it is first recorded 1)+0. 2eaning "condition of a communit! 'hich is under the rule of la'" is from 14&3. ,hrase in order to (1+55) preser es et!mological notion of "se6uence." "he 'ord reflects a er! medie al notionG "a s!stem of parts su#7ect to certain uniform, esta#lished ranks or proportions," and 'as used of e er!thing from architecture to angels. "he er# is c.1140, from the noun. 3n short order "'ithout dela!" is from 1&34, 4mer..ng.% order o) battle is from 1)+$. -utcome outcome (n.) 1)&&, "that 'hich results from something," originall! 3cottish, from out + come ( .). ,opulariDed in .ng. #! Earl!le (c.1&30s). :sed in 2... in sense of "the act or fact of coming out." come /... cuman "come" (class -; strong er#% past tense cuom, com, pp. cumen), from ,.9mc. *kwem-, from ,-. #ase *gwem- "to go, come" (cf. 3kt. gamati "he goes," 4 estan jamaiti "goes," "ocharian kakmu "come," Lith. gemu "to #e #orn," 9k. bainein "to go, 'alk, step," L. venire "to come"). 3u#stitution of -o- for -u- is scri#al change #efore minims, cf. monk, some, worm, orig. munuc, sum, wyrm. ,ast tense form is pro#a#l! from /.?. kvam, replacing /... cuom. 4maDingl! producti e 'ith prepositions (?"E<s "5ictionar! of ,hrasal ;er#s" lists 1$& com#inations)% consider the aried senses in come to "regain consciousness," come over "possess" (as an emotion), come at "attack," and come o)) "occur." 0or slang se8ual senses, see cum. "ome-back " er#al retort" is from 1&&$. Parameter parameter 1+5+, from 2od.L. arameter (1+31), from 9k. ara- "#eside, su#sidiar!" + metron "measure" (see meter (1)). 4 geometr! term until 1$10s 'hen it !ielded sense of "measura#le factor 'hich helps to define a particular s!stem" (1$1)). Eommon modern meaning (infl. #! erimeter) of "#oundar!, limit, characteristic factor" is from 1$50s.

Pattern pattern (n.) 1314, "the original proposed to imitation% the archet!pe% that 'hich is to #e copied% an e8emplar" BFohnsonC, from /.0r. atron, from 2.L. atronus (see patron). .8tended sense of "decorati e design" first recorded 15&1, from earlier sense of a "patron" as a model to #e imitated. "he difference in form and sense #et'een atron and attern 'asn<t firm till 1)00s. 2eaning "model or design in dressmaking" (especiall! one of paper) is first recorded 1)$1, in Fane 4usten. ;er# phrase attern a)ter "take as a model" is from 1&)&. Permutation permutation 13+1, from /.0r. ermutacion (14c.), from L. ermutationem (nom. ermutatio), from ermutatus, pp. of ermutare "change thoroughl!, e8change," from er- "thoroughl!" + mutare "to change" (see mutable). Pivot pivot (n.) 1+11, from 0r., from /.0r. ivot "hinge, pi ot" (11c.), of uncertain origin. "he er# is 1&41, from the noun. 0ig. sense of "central point" is recorded from 1&13% ivotal in this sense is from 1&44. Plot plot

/... lot "small piece of ground," of unkno'n origin. 3ense of "ground plan," and thus "map, chart" is 1551% that of "plan, scheme" is 15&), pro#a#l! #! accidental similarit! to com lot, from /.0r. com lot "com#ined plan," of unkno'n origin, perhaps a #ack(formation from com eloter "to roll into a #all." 2eaning "set of e ents in a stor!" is from 1+4$. "he er# is first attested 15&$ in the sense of "to la! plans for" (usuall! 'ith e il intent)% 15$0 in the lit. sense of "to make a map or diagram."

Poll poll c.11$0, olle "hair of the head," from 2.L.9. or 2.5u. ol "head, top." 2eaning "collection of otes" is first recorded 1+15, from notion of "counting heads%" meaning "sur e! of pu#lic opinion" is first recorded 1$01. "he er# meaning "to take the otes of" also is first recorded 1+15. >ollster is 1$3$. 4 deed oll "deed e8ecuted #! one part! onl!," is from earlier er#al meaning "cut the hair of," #ecause the deed 'as cut straight rather than indented (see indent). Posterior posterior (adj.)

1534, "later," from L. osterior "after, later, #ehind," comparati e of osterus "coming after, su#se6uent," from ost "after." 2eaning "#uttocks" is attested from 1+1$. Prediction predict 1+13, "to foretell, prophes!," from L. rdicatus, pp. of rdicere "foretell, ad ise, gi e notice," from r- "#efore" + dicere "to sa!" (see diction). 3cientific sense of "to ha e as a deduci#le conse6uence" is recorded from 1$+1. >rediction is recorded from 15+1, from L. rdictio "a foretelling," from rdictus. >redictably "as could ha e #een predicted" is attested from 1$14. Prior prior (adj.) 1)14, from L. rior "former, superior," comparati e of /ld L. ri "#efore" (see prime), related to L. r "#efore" (see pre-). prior (n.) "superior officer of a religious house or order," 10$3, from L. rior "former, superior" (see prior (ad7.)). Probability/probable probable 13&), from /.0r. robable (14c.), from L. robabilis "pro a#le," from robare "to tr!, to test" (see prove). >robable cause as a legal term is attested from 1+)+. >robably is attested from 1535% robability from 1551. /uantile/Percentile percent 15+&, er cent, from 2od.L. er centum "#! the hundred" (see per and hundred). :ntil earl! 10c. often treated as an a##re iation and punctuated accordingl!. >ercentage is first recorded 1)&$% sense of "profit, ad antage" is from 1&+1% ercentile is from 1&&$. /uantity quantity c.1315, from /.0r. !uantite (0r. !uantit#), from L. !uantitatem (nom. !uantitas, coined as a loan(translation of 9k. osotes) "relati e greatness or e8tent," from !uantus "ho' much," from !uam "ho', ho' much." quantum 1+1$, "one<s share or portion," from L. !uantum "ho' much," neut. sing. of !uantus "ho' great" (see quantity). -ntroduced in ph!sics #! 2a8 ,lanck, 1$00% reinforced #! .instein, 1$05. ?uantum theory is from 1$11% !uantum mechanics, 1$11% !uantum jum is first recorded 1$55% !uantum lea , 1$)0. 0andom

random "ha ing no definite aim or purpose," 1+55, from at random (15+5), "at great speed" (thus, "carelessl!, haphaDardl!"), alteration of 2... randon "impetuosit!, speed" (c.1305), from /.0r. randon "rush, disorder, force, impetuosit!," from randir "to run fast," from 0rankish *rant "a running," from ,.9mc. *randa (cf. /.@.9. rennen "to run," /... rinnan "to flo', to run"). -n 1$&0s college student slang, it #egan to ac6uire a sense of "inferior, undesira#le." ,andom access in ref. to computer memor! is recorded from 1$53. 0ange range (n.) c.1300, "ro' or line of persons" (esp. hunters or soldiers), from /.0r. range "range, rank," from rangier "to place in a ro', arrange," from reng "ro', line" (see rank (n.)). 2eaning "ro' of mountains" is from 1)05. 2eaning "scope, e8tent" first recorded 1+++% that of "area o er 'hich animals seek food" is from 1+1+, from the er# meaning "mo e o er a large area" (14))). 3pecific :.3. sense of "series of to'nships si8 miles in 'idth" is from 1)&5. 3ense of "distance a gun can send a #ullet" is recorded from 15$1% meaning "place used for shooting practice" is from 1&+1. "he er# sense of "to arrange in ro's" is recorded from 13)5. "he cooking appliance so called since 144+, for unkno'n reasons. ,angy is 1&+&, "adapted for ranging%" the meaning "ha ing a long, slender form" (as an animal suited to ranging) is from 1&)+. 0an* rank (n.) earl! 14c., from /.0r. ranc, from 0rankish *hring (cf. /.@.9. hring "circle, ring"), from ,.9mc. *khrenga/ "circle, ring" (see ring). 2eaning "social position" is from c.1430% the er# sense of "put in order, classif!" is from 15$1. ,ank and )ile is 15$&, in reference to soldiers marching in formation, generaliDed to "common soldiers" (1)$+) and "common people" (1&+0). "he er# meaning "to arrange things in order" is from 15$0. 0ate rate (n.) "estimated alue or 'orth," 1415, from 2.0r. rate "price, alue," from 2.L. rata ( ars) "fi8ed (amount)," from L. rata "fi8ed, settled," fem. pp. of reri "to reckon, think" (see reason). 2eaning "degree of speed" (prop. ratio #et'een distance and time) is attested from 1+51. Eurrenc! e8change sense first recorded 1)1). "he er# "to estimate the 'orth or alue of" is from 15$$. 1irst-rate, second-rate, etc. are 1+4$, from *ritish ?a ! di ision of ships into si8 classes #ased on siDe and strength. ,hrase at any rate originall! (1+1$) meant "at an! cost%" 'eakened sense of "at least" is attested #! 1)+0. 0egression

regress c.13)5 (n.), "act of going #ack," from L. regressus "a return," from regress-, pp. stem of regredi "to go #ack," from re- "#ack" + gradi "to step, 'alk" (see grade). "he er# meaning "to mo e #ack'ard" is recorded from 1&13% the ps!chological sense of "to return to an earlier stage of life" is attested from 1$1+. ,egressive is recorded from 1+34% in ref. to ta8ation, it is attested from 1&&$. 0eliability reliable 15+$, raliabill, 3cottish, from rely + -able. ?ot common #efore 1&50% and e8ecrated thereafter in *ritain as an 4mericanism. rely c.1330, "to gather, assem#le," from /.0r. relier "fasten, attach, rall!, o#lige," from L. religare "fasten, #ind fast," from re-, intensi e prefi8, + ligare "to #ind" (see ligament). 3ense of "depend, trust" is from 15)4, perhaps ia notion of "rall! to, fall #ack on." epeat repeat c.13)5, from /.0r. re eter "sa! or do again, get #ack, demand the return of" (13c.), from L. re etere "do or sa! again, attack again," from re- "again" + etere "go to'ard, seek, demand, attack" (see petition). 3pecific meaning "to take a course of education o er again" is recorded from 1$45, 4mer..ng. "he noun is first recorded 155+. eplication replication c.13)4, "action of folding #ack," also "legal repl!, re7oinder" (c.13&+), from 4nglo(0r. re licacioun, /.0r. re lication, from L. re licationem (nom. re licatio) "a repl!, repetition, a folding #ack," from re licatus, pp. of re licare "to repeat, repl!," lit. "to fold #ack" (see reply). 2eaning "cop!, reproduction" first recorded 1+$1. ,e licate "to make a replica of" is from 1&&1% specificall! of genetic material from 1$5). esidual residue 13+1, from /.0r. residu, from L. residuum "a remainder," neut. of residuus "remaining, left o er," from residere "remain #ehind" (see residence). ,esidual (ad7.) is from 15)0. esponse response c.1300, from L. res onsum "ans'er," prop. neut. pp. of res ondere "to respond" (see respond). ,es onsive is from L.L. res onsivus, from L. res onsus, pp. of res ondere.

0is* risk (n.) 1++1, ris!ue, from 0r. ris!ue, from -t. risco, riscio (modern rischio), from riscare "run into danger," of uncertain origin. "he 4ngliciDed spelling first recorded 1)1&. 3p. riesgo and 9er. ,isiko are -t. loan('ords. "he er# is from 1+&)% risky first recorded 1&1+. "he term risk ma! #e traced #ack to classical 9reek KLMN, meaning root, later used in Latin for cliff. "he term is used in @omerOs >hapsod! 2 of /d!sse! "3irens, 3c!lla, Ehar!#dee and the #ulls of @elios (3un)" /d!sseus tried to sa e himself from Ehar!#dee at the cliffs of 3c!lla, 'here his ship 'as destro!ed #! hea ! seas generated #! Peus as a punishment for his cre' killing #efore the #ulls of @elios (the god of the sun), #! grapping the roots of a 'ild fig tree. -n the classical te8t there is an anti6ue painting of /d!sseus riding a turtle (that happened to #e on the cliffs) and the fig tree on the right.

Latin and ulgar latin (resicum, risicum, riscus @ cli)), r#ci), 1elskli e , is the direct formal origin for italian (risico, risco, rischio), spanish riesgo and french ris!ue. .nglish #orro'ed it from spanish, german from italian and #oth 'ere confirmed #! the 0rench ris!ue of the 1&th centur!. 5ictionaries confirm that the Latin 'ord comes from a 9reek na igation term rhi/ikon, rhi/a 'hich meant "root, stone, cut of the firm land" and 'as a metaphor for "difficult! to a oid in the sea". -t might #e of a certain interest that these le8ical #orro'ings happened in the end of the middle(ages, 'hen mentalities 'oke up and people dared to disco er the 'orld. 3o that from the 1+th centur! on, the term got a #enefit meaning, for e8ample in middle(high(9erman ,ysigo :ABC a technical term for #usiness, 'ith the meaning "to dare, to undertake, enterprise, hope for economic success".

-olf .,/ong' D01' Fe(ruary 23th 2443 http://research.dnv.com/skj/Papers/ETYMOLOGY-OF- I!".pd#

oulette roulette 1)34, "small 'heel," from 0r. roulette "gam#ling game pla!ed 'ith a re ol ing 'heel," lit. "small 'heel," from /.0r. roelete "little 'heel," on model of L.L. rotella, dim. of L. rota "'heel." "he game of chance so(called from 1)45. un run (n.) "spell of running," c.1450 (earlier ren, c.13$0), from run ( .). 3ense of "small stream" first recorded 15&1, mostl! ?orthern .ng. dialect and 4mer..ng. 2eaning "series or rush of demands on a #ank, etc." is first recorded 1+$1. *ase#all sense is from 1&5+. 2eaning "single trip #! a railroad train" is from 1&5). 2ilitar! aircraft sense is from 1$1+. 2eaning "total num#er of copies printed" is from 1$0$. 2eaning "tear in a knitted garment" is from 1$11. ,hrase a run )or one's money is from 1&)4. ,un-in "6uarrel, confrontation" is from 1$05. Sample sample c.1300, "something 'hich confirms a proposition or statement," from 4nglo(0r. saum le, aphetic of /.0r. essam le, from L. e.em lum "a sample" (see example). 2eaning "small 6uantit! (of something) from 'hich the general 6ualit! (of the 'hole) ma! #e inferred" (usuall! in a commercial sense) is recorded from 141&% sense of "specimen for scientific sampling" is from 1&)&. "he er# meaning "to test #! taking a sample" is from 1)+). Scale scale (n2.) "pan of a #alance," c.13)5, earlier "drinking cup" (c.1105), from /.?. skal "#o'l, drinking cup," in pl., "'eighing scale" from ,.9mc. *sklo "split, di ide" (cf. /.?. skel "shell," /... scalu, /.3. skala, /.@.9. scala, 9er. Dchale, 2.5u. scale, 5u. schaal "drinking cup, #o'l, shell, scale of a #alance"), see scale (n.1). "he connecting sense seems to #e of half of a #i al e ("split") shell used as a drinking cup or a pan for 'eighing. *ut according to ,aulus 5iaconus the "drinking cup" sense originated from a supposed custom of making go#lets from skulls (see skull). scale (n1.) "skin plates on fish or snakes," c.1300, from /.0r. escale (11c., 2od.0r. #cale) "scale, husk," from 0rank., from ,.9mc. *sklo "split, di ide" (cf. /.@.9. scala "shell," 9oth. skalja "tile," /... scealu "shell, husk), from ,-. #ase *(s)kel- "to cut, clea e, split" (cf. L. culter "knife," scal ere "to cut, scrape%" /.E.3. skolika "mussel, shell," >us. skala "rind, #ark," /... scell

skull

"shell"). -n reference to humans, as a condition of certain skin diseases, it is attested from c.1400. 4s 'hat falls from one<s e!e 'hen #lindness ends (usuall! fig.), it echoes 4cts i8.1& (L. tan!uam s!uam, 9k. hosei le ides). ;er# meaning "to remo e the scales from (a fish)" is attested from c.1440. c.1115, pro#a#l! from /.?. skalli "#ald head, skull," a general 3cand. 'ord (cf. 3'ed. skulle, ?or'. skult), pro#a#l! related to /... scealu "husk" (see shell). *ut earl! prominence in south'estern te8ts suggests rather origin from a 5u. or Lo' 9er. cognate (e.g. 5u. schol "turf, piece of ice," #ut the sense of "head #one frame'ork" is 'anting). 5eri ation from /.0r. escuelle seems unlikel! on grounds of sound and sense. /... 'ords for skull include hea)od-bolla.

Scatter scatter 1154, possi#l! a northern .ng. ariant of 2... schateren (see shatter), reflecting ?orse influence. Dcatterbrain is first recorded 1)$0. Dcattershot (ad7.) is attested from 1$+1, fig. use of term for a kind of gun charge meant to #roadcast the pellets 'hen fired. Score score

late /... scoru "t'ent!," from /.?. skor "mark, tall!," also, in -celandic, "t'ent!," from ,.9mc. *skura-, from ,-. #ase *(s)ker- "to cut" (cf. /... sceran$ see shear). "he connecting notion is perhaps counting large num#ers (of sheep, etc.) 'ith a notch in a stick for each 10. "his counting notion is the origin of the modern sense in sports (1)41, originall! in 'hist). -n /.0r., "t'ent!" (vint) or a multiple of it could #e used as a #ase, e.g. vint et do/e ("31"), dous vin/ et di/ ("50"). 2eaning "printed piece of music" first recorded 1)01, from the practice of connecting related sta es #! scores of lines. "he er# meaning "to cut 'ith incisions or notches" is attested from c.1400% the slang sense "achie e intercourse" first recorded 1$+0.

Seasonal season (n.) c.1300, "a period of the !ear," 'ith ref. to 'eather or 'ork, from /.0r. seison (2od.0r. saison) "a so'ing, planting," from L. sationem (nom. satio) "a so'ing," from pp. stem of serere "to so'" (see sow). 3ense shifted in ;.L. from "act of so'ing" to "time of so'ing." -n /.0r. and /.,ro . this 'as e8tended to "season" in general (so'ing season #eing the most important). Deasonable is first recorded c.13&0. Deason ticket is attested from 1&10. Se%uential sequence

13&), "h!mn sung after the @allelu7ah and #efore the 9ospel," from /.0r. se!uence "ans'ering erses" (13c.), from 2.L. se!uentia "a follo'ing, a succession," from L. se!uentem (nom. se!uens), prp. of se!ui "to follo'" (see sequel). -n Ehurch use, a partial loan(translation of 9k. akolouthia, from akolouthos "follo'ing." 9eneral sense of "succession," also "a se6uence at cards," appeared 15)5. Series series 1+11, "a num#er or set of things of one kind arranged in a line," from L. series "ro', chain, series," from serere "to 7oin, link, #ind together, put," from ,-. #ase *ser- "to line up, 7oin" (cf. 3kt. sarat- "thread," 9k. eirein "to fasten together in ro's," 9oth. sarwa (pl.) "armor, arms," /.?. sErve "necklace of stringed pearls," /.-r. sernaid "he 7oins together," Aelsh ystret "ro'"). 2eaning "set of printed 'orks pu#lished consecuti el!" is from 1)11. 2eaning "set of radio or tele ision programs 'ith the same characters and themes" is attested from 1$4$. Set set (n.) "collection of things," 1443, from /.0r. sette "se6uence," ariant of secte, from 2.L. secta "retinue," from L. secta "a follo'ing" (see sect). "he 'ord had #een earlier used in .ng. in the sense of "religious sect" (13&)), 'hich likel! is the direct source of some meanings, e.g. "group of persons 'ith shared status, ha#its, etc." (1+&1). 3ense of "#urro' of a #adger" is attested from 1&$&. "hat of "scener! for an indi idual scene in a pla!, etc." is recorded from 1&5$. 2eaning "group of pieces musicians perform at a clu# during 45 minutes (more or less) is from c.1$15, though it is found in a similar sense in 15$0. Significance significance c.1300 (implied in signi)ication), from L. signi)icantia "meaning, force, energ!," from signi)icans, prp. of signi)icare (see signify). 0irst record of signi)icant is from 15)$. insignificant 1+51, from in- "not" + signi)icant (see significance). Simulation simulation 1340, "a false sho', false profession," from /.0r. simulation, from L. simulationem (nom. simulatio) "an imitating, feigning," noun of action from simulare "imitate," from stem of similis "like" (see similar). simulate (v.) 1+11 (implied in simulated), from L. simulatus, pp. of simulare (see simulation). 0irst record of simulated in sense of "imitati e for purposes of e8periment or training" is from 1$++.

Simultaneous simultaneous 1+51 (implied in simultaneity), from L.L. simultaneus, from L. simul "at the same time" (see similar) + -taneous, a#stracted from s ontaneous, etc. S*ewed/S*ewness ske! (v.) c.14)0, from /.?.0r. eskiuer "sh! a'a! from, a oid," /.0r. eschiver (see eschew). 2eaning "depict unfairl!" first recorded 1&)1, on notion of #eing slanted. 3tatistical sense dates from 1$1$. "he ad7. meaning "slanting, turned to one side" is recorded from 1+0$% noun meaning "slant, de iation" first attested 1+&&. aske! 15)3, pro#a#l! lit. "on ske'" (see skew), perhaps from /.?. form of it, a ska. .arlier askoye is attested in the same sense (1430). Slope slope (v.) 15$1, from earlier ad7. meaning "slanting" (1501), pro#a#l! from 2... aslo e (ad .) "on the incline" (14)0), from /... *aslo en, pp. of aslu an "to slip a'a!," from a- "a'a!" + slu an "to slip" (see sleeve). "he noun is first recorded 1+11, from the er#. 5erogator! slang meaning "/riental person" is attested from 1$4&. Smooth smooth /... smo0 "free from roughness, not harsh," of unkno'n origin. 3ense of "pleasant, polite, sincere" first recorded c.13$0. 3lang meaning "superior, class!, cle er" is attested from 1&$3. "he er# is first recorded c.1440. Dmooth-bore in ref. to guns is from 1&11. smooth talk ( .) is recorded from 1$50. 4 15$$ dictionar! has smoothboots "a flatterer, a faire spoken man, a cunning tongued fello'." "he usual /... form 'as sme0e, and there is a dial. smeeth found in places names, e.g. Smithfield, Dmedley. Sort sort (v.) 135&, "to arrange according to t!pe or 6ualit!," from /.0r. sortir "allot, sort, assort," from L. sortiri "dra' lots, di ide, choose," from sors (see sort (n.)). -n some senses, the er# is a shortened form of assort. Standard/Standardi(ed standard 113&, "flag or other conspicuous o#7ect to ser e as a rall!ing point for a militar! force," from /.0r. estandart, pro#a#l! from 0rank. *standhard, lit. "stand fast or firm," a compound of 'ords similar to 9othic standan "to stand" (see stand) and hardus "hard" (see hard). 3o called #ecause

the flag 'as fi8ed to a pole or spear and stuck in the ground to stand upright. "he other theor! connects the /.0r. 'ord to estendre "to stretch out," from L. e.tendere (see extend). 2eaning "unit of measure" is 131), from 4nglo(0r., 'here it 'as used 13c., and is perhaps metaphoric, the ro!al standard coming to stand for ro!al authorit! in matters like setting 'eights and measures. @ence the meaning "authoritati e or recogniDed e8emplar of 6ualit! or correctness" (14))). 2eaning "rule, principal or means of 7udgment" is from 15+1. "hat of "definite le el of attainment" is attested from 1)11 (e.g. standard o) living, 1$03). 3ome senses (e.g. "upright pole," c.1450) seem to #e infl. #! stand ( .). Dtandardi/e is recorded from 1&)3. Dtandard-bearer in the figurati e sense is from 15+1. Statistic statistics 1))0, "science dealing 'ith data a#out the condition of a state or communit!," from 9er. Dtatistik, populariDed and perhaps coined #! 9er. political scientist 9ottfried 4schen'all (1)1$()1) in his %Forbereitung /ur Dtaatswissenscha)t% (1)4&), from 2od.L. statisticum (collegium) "(lecture course on) state affairs," from -t. statista "one skilled in statecraft," from L. status (see state (n.1)). 2eaning "numerical data collected and classified" is from 1&1$. 4##re iated form stats first recorded 1$+1. Dtatistician is from 1&15. Stochastic stochastic 1++1, "pertaining to con7ecture," from 9k. stokhastikos "a#le to guess, con7ecturing," from stokha/esthai "guess," from stokhos "a guess, aim, target, mark," lit. "pointed stick set up for archers to shoot at" (see sting). "he sense of "randoml! determined" is first recorded 1$34, from 9er. Dtochastik. Strata stratum "horiDontal la!er," 15$$, from 2od.L., special use of L. stratum "thing spread out, co erlet, pa ement," from neut. pp. of sternere "to spread out, la! do'n, stretch out," from ,-. *stre-to- "to stretch, e8tend," from #ase *stere- "to spread, e8tend, stretch out" (see structure). strata c.1)00, plural of stratum. stratification 1+1), from 2od.L. strati)icationem (nom. strati)icatio), from strati)icatus, pp. of strati)icare "to form strata," from stratum "thing spread out" + root of )acere "to make" (see factitious). Sub1ective subject (n.)

1315, "person under control or dominion of another," from /.0r. suget, subget "a su#7ect person or thing" (11c.), from L. subjectus, noun use of pp. of subicere "to place under," from sub "under" + com#ining form of jacere "to thro'." -n 14c., sugges, sogetis, subgit, sugette% form re( LatiniDed in .ng. 1+c. 2eaning "person or thing that ma! #e acted upon" is recorded from 15$1. 2eaning "su#7ect matter of an art or science" is attested from 1541, pro#a#l! short for subject matter (c.13)4), 'hich is from 2.L. subjecta materia, a loan translation of 9k. hy okeimene hyle (4ristotle), lit. "that 'hich lies #eneath." Like'ise some specific uses in logic and philosoph! are #orro'ed directl! from L. subjectum "foundation or su#7ect of a proposition," a loan(translation of 4ristotle<s to hy okeimenon. 9rammatical sense is recorded from c.1+3&. "he ad7. is attested from c.1330. Dubjective "e8isting in the mind" is from 1)0). Sufficient suffice c.1315, from stem of /.0r. sou))ire "#e sufficient," from L. su))icere "suppl!, suffice," from sub "up to" + root of )acere "to make" (see factitious). ,hrase su))ice it to say (13$0) is a rare sur i ing su#7uncti e. Du))icient (13)5) is from L. su))iciens, prp. of su))icere.

Sure sure c.1300, "safe, secure," later "mentall! certain" (c.1450), from /.0r. sur, seur "safe, secure," from L. securus "free from care, untrou#led, heedless, safe" (see secure). ,ronunciation de elopment follo'ed that of sugar. 4s an affirmati e meaning "!es, certainl!" it dates from 1&03, from 2... meanings "firml! esta#lished, ha ing no dou#t," and phrases like to be sure (1+5)), sure enough (1545), and )or sure (15&+). "he use as a 6ualifier meaning "assuredl!" goes #ack to 1415. Dure-)ooted is from 1+33% sure)ire first attested 1$01% sure thing dates from 1&3+. -n 1+c.(1)c., Duresby 'as an appellation for a person to #e depended upon. Table table (n.) c.11)5, "#oard, sla#, plate," from /.0r. table "#oard, plank, 'riting ta#le, picture" (11c.), and late /... tabele, from A.9mc. *tabal (cf. /.@.9. /abel, 9er. &a)el), #oth from L. tabula "a #oard, plank, ta#le," originall! "small flat sla# or piece" usuall! for inscriptions or for games, of uncertain origin, related to :m#rian ta)le "on the #oard." "he sense of "piece of furniture 'ith the flat top and legs" first recorded c.1300 (the usual L. 'ord for this 'as mensa% /... 'riters used bord). "he meaning "arrangement of num#ers or other figures for con enience" is recorded from c.13&+ (e.g. table o) contents, 14+0). &ablecloth is from 14+)% tables oon is 1)+3%

tableware first recorded 1&51. 0ig. phrase turn the tables (1+34) is from #ackgammon (in /... and 2... the game 'as called tables). &able talk is attested from 15+$, translating L. collo!uia mensalis. "o table-ho is first recorded 1$5+. "he ad7. phrase under-the-table "hidden from ie'" is recorded from 1$4$% under the table "passed out from e8cess drinking" is recorded from 1$11. &able tennis is recorded from 1&&). Test test (n.) c.13&+, "small essel used in assa!ing precious metals," from /.0r. test, from L. testum "earthen pot," related to testa "piece of #urned cla!, earthen pot, shell" (cf. L. testudo "tortoise") and te.tere "to 'ea e" (cf. Lith. tistas " essel made of 'illo' t'igs%" see texture). 3ense of "trial or e8amination to determine the correctness of something" is recorded from 15$4. "he er# in this sense is from 1)4&. "he connecting notion is "ascertaining the 6ualit! of a metal #! melting it in a pot." &est-tube is from 1&4+% test-tube baby is recorded from 1$35. &est Act 'as the name gi en to arious la's in .ng. histor! meant to e8clude Eatholics and ?onconformists from office, especiall! that of 1+)3, repealed 1&1&. &est drive ( .) is first recorded 1$54. Treatment treat (v.) 11$), "negotiate, #argain, deal 'ith," from /.0r. traitier (11c.), from L. tractare "manage, handle, deal 'ith," originall! "drag a#out," fre6uentati e of trahere (pp. tractus) "to pull, dra'" (see tract (1)). 2eaning "to entertain 'ith food and drink #! 'a! of compliment or kindness (or #ri#er!)" is recorded from c.1500. 3ense of "deal 'ith in speech or 'riting" (c.1315) led to the use in medicine (1)&1), "to attempt to heal or cure." "he noun is first recorded 13)5, "action of discussing terms%" sense of "a treating 'ith food and drink" (1+51) 'as e8tended #! 1))0 to "an!thing that gi es pleasure." &reatment "conduct, #eha ior" is recorded from c.15+0% in the medical sense, it is first recorded 1)44. Tree tree

/... treo, treow "tree" (also "'ood"), from ,.9mc. *trewan (cf. /.0ris. tre, /.3. trio, /.?. tre, 9oth. triu), from ,-. *deru-5*doru- "oak" (cf. 3kt. dru "tree, 'ood," daru "'ood, log%" 9k. drys "oak," doru "spear%" /.E.3. drievo "tree, 'ood%" 3er#. drvo "tree," drva "'ood%" >us. drevo "tree, 'ood%" EDech drva% ,ol. drwa "'ood%" Lith. derva "pine 'ood%" /.-r. daur, Aelsh derwen "oak," 4l#anian drusk "oak"). -mportance of the oak in m!tholog! is reflected in the recurring use of 'ords for "oak" to mean "tree." -n /... and 2..., also "thing made of 'ood," especiall! the cross of the Erucifi8ion and a gallo's (cf. &yburn tree, gallo's mentioned 11c. at "!#urn, at 7unction of /8ford 3treet and .dg'are >oad, place of pu#lic e8ecution for 2iddlese8 until 1)&3). 3ense in )amily tree first attested

1)0+% er# meaning "to chase up a tree" is from 1)00. &ree-hugger, contemptuous for "en ironmentalist" is attested #! 1$&$. Trend trend (v.) 15$&, "to run or #end in a certain direction" (of ri ers, coasts, etc.), from 2... trenden "to roll a#out, turn, re ol e," from /... trendan, from ,.9mc. *trandijanan (cf. /... trinde "round lump, #all," /.0ris. trind, 2.L.9. trint "round," 2.L.9. trent "ring, #oundar!," 5u. trent "circumference," 5an. trind "round")% origin and connections outside 9mc. uncertain. 3ense of "ha e a general tendenc!" (used of e ents, opinions, etc.) is first recorded 1&+3, from the nautical sense. "he noun meaning "the 'a! something #ends" (coastline, mountain range, etc.) is recorded from 1)))% sense of "general tendenc!" is from 1&&4. &rendsetter first attested 1$+0% trendy is from 1$+1. Trial trial

143+, "act or process of testing," from 4nglo(0r. trial, noun formed from triet "to tr!" (see try). 3ense of "e8amining and deciding a case in a court of la'" is first recorded 15))% e8tended to an! ordeal #! 15$5. c.1300, "e8amine 7udiciousl!, sit in 7udgment of," from 4nglo(0r. trier (c.11$0), from /.0r. trier "to pick out, cull" (11c.), from 9allo(>omance *triare, of unkno'n origin. "he ground sense is "separate out (the good) #! e8amination." 2eaning "to test" is first recorded c.13+1% that of "attempt to do" is from earl! 14c. 3ense of "to su#7ect to some strain" (of patience, endurance, etc.) is recorded from 153$. &rying "distressing" is first attested 1)1&. &ry-out "trial of skill or a#ilit!" first recorded 1$03. "o try (something) on )or si/e in the fig. sense is recorded from 1$5+.

try

2nit unit 15)0, "single num#er regarded as an undi ided 'hole," alteration of unity on the #asis of digit. ,opulariDed in Fohn 5ee<s .ng. translation of .uclid, to e8press 9k. monas (5ee sa!s unity formerl! 'as used in this sense). 2eaning "single thing regarded as a mem#er of a group" is attested from 1+41. .8tended sense of "a 6uantit! adopted as a standard of measure" is from 1)3&. 3ense of "group of 'ards in a hospital" is attested from 1&$3. monad "unit!, arithmetical unit," 1+15, from L. monas (gen. monadis), from 9k. monas "unit," from monos "alone" (see mono-). -n Lei#nitD<s philosoph!, "an ultimate unit of #eing" (1)4&). 3ariance variance

c.1340, "fact of undergoing change," from /.0r. variance, from L. variantia, from variare "to change" (see vary). 2eaning "state of disagreement" is recorded from c.1415. "he :.3. Doning sense of "official dispensation from a #uilding regulation" is recorded from 1$15.

3ariate vary c.1340 (trans.), c.13+$ (intrans.), from /.0r. varier, from L. variare "change, alter, make different," from varius " aried, different, spotted%" perhaps related to varus "#ent, crooked, knock(kneed," and vari. " aricose ein," from a ,-. #ase *wer- "high raised spot or other #odil! infirmit!" (cf. /... wearte "'art," 3'ed. varbulde "pus s'elling," L. verruca "'art"). variable (adj.) 13&), of persons, from /.0r. variable, from L. variabilis "changea#le," from variare "to change" (see vary). /f 'eather, seasons, etc., attested from c.14&0% of stars, from 1)&&. "he noun meaning "6uantit! that can ar! in alue" first recorded 1&1+, from the ad7. various 1551, "su#7ect to change," from 2.0r. varieu., from L. varius "changing, different, di erse" (see vary). 2eaning "different from one another" is recorded from 1+34. variety 1533, from 2.0r. vari#t#, from L. varietatem (nom. varietas) "difference, di ersit!," from varius " arious" (see vary). 0irst recorded 1&+&, 4mer..ng., in ref. to "music hall or theatrical performances of a mi8ed nature."