A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

appendix --- 1549, "subjoined addition to a document or book," from L. appendix "something attached," from appendere (see append). Used for "small outgrowth of an internal organ" from 1615, especially in ref. to the vermiform appendix. Appendicitis is from 1886; appendectomy (1894) is a hybrid, with Gk. -ektomia "a cutting out of."

appertain --- c.1386, from O.Fr. apartenir, from L.L. adpertinere "to pertain to," from ad- "to, completely" + pertinere "to belong to" (see pertain). To belong as parts to the whole, or as members to a family or class.

appetite --- c.1303, "craving for food," from Anglo-Fr. appetit, from O.Fr. apetit, from L. appetitus "desire toward," from appetere "to long for, desire" from ad- "to" + petere "go to, seek out" (see petition). Appetizer "something taken to whet the appetite" is from 1862; appetizing "exciting desire or hunger" is from 1653.

Appian Way --- road between Rome and Capua, so called because it was begun (302 B.C.E.) by the consul Appius Claudius Caecus.

applause --- c.1425, from L. applausus, pp. of applaudere "approve by clapping hands," from ad- "upon" + plaudere "to clap hands, strike" (see plaudit). Applaud is attested from 1536.

apple --- O.E. æppel "apple," from P.Gmc. *ap(a)laz (cf. O.Fris., Du. appel, O.N. eple, O.H.G. apful, Ger. Apfel), from PIE *ab(e)l "apple" (cf. Gaul. avallo, O.Ir. ubull, Lith. obuolys, O.C.S. jabloko), but the exact relation and original sense of these is uncertain. Gk. melon and L. malum are probably from a pre-I.E. Mediterranean language. A generic term for all fruit, other than berries but including nuts, as late as 17c., hence its use for the unnamed "fruit of the forbidden tree" in Genesis. Cucumbers, in one O.E. work, are eorþæppla, lit. "earth-apples" (cf. Fr. pomme de terre "potato," lit. "earth-apple;" see also melon). Fr. pomme is from L. pomum "fruit." "A roted eppel amang þe holen, makeþ rotie þe yzounde." ["Ayenbite of Inwit," 1340] Apple of Discord (c.1400) was thrown into the wedding of Thetis and Peleus by Eris (goddess of chaos and discord), who had not been invited, and inscribed kallisti "To the Prettiest One." Paris, elected to choose which goddess should have it, gave it to Aphrodite, offending Hera and Athene, with consequences of the Trojan War, etc. Apple of one's eye (O.E.), symbol of what is most cherished, was the pupil, supposed to be a globular solid body. Apple-polisher "one who curries favor" first attested 1928 in student slang.

appliance --- 1561, "action of putting into use," from apply. Meaning "instrument, thing applied for a purpose" is from 1597.

application --- 1493, from O.Fr. application, from L. applicationem (nom. applicatio) "a joining to, an attaching oneself to," noun of action from applicare (see apply).

appliqué --- 1841, from Fr. appliqué "work applied or laid on another material," pp. of appliquer "to apply," from L. applicare (see apply).

apply --- c.1374, from O.Fr. aplier, from L. applicare "to attach to, to devote oneself to," from ad- "to" + plicare "fold" see ply (v.)). The etymological sense is "to bring things in contact with one another." Applied (opposed to abstract or theoretical) is from 1656.

appoint --- c.1374, from O.Fr. apointier "to arrange, settle, place," from apointer "duly, fitly," from phrase à point "to the point," from a- "to" + point "point," from L. punctum. The ground sense is "to come to a point about (a matter), agree, settle." Appointment first recorded 1417; meaning "agreement or arrangement for a meeting" is from c.1530; sense of "act of placing in office" is from 1658.

apportion --- 1574, from M.Fr. apportionner, from O.Fr. apportioner, from a- "to" + portioner "to divide into portions," from portion "share, portion" (see portion).

apposite --- 1621, "well-put or applied, appropriate," from L. appositus, pp. of apponere "apply to, put near," from ad- "near" + ponere "to place" (see position).

appraise --- 1535, from L.L. appretiare "value, estimate," from ad- "to" + pretium "price" (see price). Original Eng. spelling apprize altered by influence of praise (q.v.).

appreciate --- 1655, "to esteem or value highly," from L.L. appretiatus pp. of appretiare "to set a price to" (see appraise). Meaning "to rise in value" (intr.) first recorded 1789. Appreciation "high estimation" is from 1650; meaning "expression of one's estimate of something" (usually favorable) is from 1858.

apprehend --- 1398, from O.Fr. apprehender, from L. apprehendere "to take hold of, grasp," from ad- "to" + prehendere "to seize" (see prehensile). Metaphoric extension in L. to "seize with the mind," which was the sense of the word in O.Fr. Originally sense returned in meaning "to seize in the name of the law, arrest," recorded from 1548, which was probably taken directly from L. Apprehensive "anticipative of something adverse" first recorded 1633.

apprentice --- 1307, from O.Fr. aprentiz "someone learning," from aprendre (Mod.Fr. apprendre) "to learn, teach," contracted from L. apprehendere (see apprehend). Aphetic form prentice was long more usual in Eng. The verb is first attested 1631.

apprise --- to notify, 1694, from Fr. appris, pp. of apprendre "to inform, teach," lit. "to lay hold of (in the mind)," another metaphoric meaning of L. apprehendere (see apprehend).

approach --- c.1305, from Anglo-Fr. approcher, from O.Fr. aprochier, from L.L. appropiare "go nearer to," from L. ad- "to" + L.L. propiare "come nearer," comp. of L. prope "near." Replaced O.E. neahlæcan. The noun is 1489, from the verb. Fig. sense of "means of handling a problem, etc." is first attested 1905.

approbation --- 1393, from O.Fr. aprobation, from L. approbationem, noun of action from approbare (see approve).

appropriate (v.) --- 1528, from L.L. appropriatus, pp. of appropriare "to make one's own," from L. ad- "to" + propriare "take as one's own," from proprius "one's own" (see proper). Adj. sense of "specially suitable, proper" is from 1546. Appropriation is first recorded 1393, "the making of a thing private property;" sense of "setting aside for some purpose" (esp. of money, etc.) is from 1789.

approve --- 1340, "to attest (something) with authority," from O.Fr. aprover, from L. approbare "to assent to as good, regard as good," from ad- "to" + probare "to try, test something (to find if it is good)," from probus "honest, genuine" (see prove). The meaning extended c.1380 to "show (something) to be good," then to "assent to (something) as good" (1413), especially in ref. to authorities, parliaments, etc.

approximate (adj.) --- 1646, from L. approximatus, pp. of approximare "to draw near to," from ad- "to" + proximare "come near," from proximus "nearest," superlative of prope "near." The verb is 1660, from the adj.

appurtenance --- 1377, from Anglo-Fr. apurtenance, from O.Fr. apartenance, from apertenir, from L. appertinere "to pertain to," from ad- "to" + pertinere "belong to" (see pertain).

apricot --- 1551, abrecock, from Catalan abercoc, related to Port. albricoque, from Arabic al-birquq, through Byzantine Gk. berikokkia from L. (malum) præcoquum "early-ripening (fruit)" (see precocious). Form assimilated to Fr. abricot. The older L. name for it was prunum or malum Armeniacum, in ref. to supposed origin in Armenia. As a color name, first attested 1906.

April --- 1297, aueril, from O.Fr. avrill (11c.), from L. (mensis) Aprilis "(month) of Venus," second month of the ancient Roman calendar, dedicated to the goddess Venus and perhaps based on Apru, an Etruscan borrowing of Gk. Aphrodite. Replaced O.E. Eastermonað, which was similarly named for a fertility goddess. Re-spelled in M.E. on L. model (apprile first attested 1377). April Fool is attested from 1687. April-gowk (from O.N. gaukr "a cuckoo") is a northern variant. April Fool's Day customs of sending people on false errands seem to have come to Eng. from France late 17c.; originally All Fool's Day (1712). In Cumberland, Westmorland and northern parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire, however, May 1 was the day for hoaxing, and the fool was a May gosling. That custom was first attested 1791.

apron --- 1461, faulty separation of a napron (1307), from O.Fr. naperon, dim. of nappe "cloth," from L. mappa "napkin" (cf. adder, umpire). Napron was still found as late as late 16c. Symbolic of "wife's business" from 1611. Apron-string tenure was in ref. to property held in virtue of one's wife, or during her lifetime only. "Even at his age, he ought not to be always tied to his mother's apron string." [Anne Brontë, "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall," 1848]

apropos --- 1668, from Fr. à propos "to the purpose," from propos "purpose, plan," from L. propositium, pp. of proponere "to set forth, propose."

apse --- 1846, from L. apsis "arch, vault," from Gk. hapsis "loop, arch," from haptein "fasten together," the original sense in Gk. seems to have been the joining of the arcs to form a circle, especially in making a wheel. The architectural term is earlier attested in Eng. in the L. form (1706).

apt --- 1398, "suited, fitted, adapted," from L. aptus "fit, suited," pp. of *apere "to attach, join, tie to," from PIE base *ap- "to grasp, take, reach" (cf. Skt. apnoti "he reaches," Hitt. epmi "I seize"). Elliptical sense of "becoming, appropriate" is from 1563; sense of "habitually liable" is from 1528.

aptitude --- 1548, "quality of being fit for a purpose or position," from L.L. aptitudo (gen. aptitudinis) "fitness," from L. aptus "joined, fitted" (see apt).

aqua- --- combination element or prefix meaning "water," from L. aqua "water," cognate with P.Gmc. *akhwo, source of O.E. ea "river," Goth. ahua "river, waters," O.N. Ægir, name of the sea-god, O.E. ieg "island;" all from PIE *akwa- "water" (cf. Skt. ap "water," Hitt. akwanzi "they drink," Lith. uppe "a river").

aqua fortis --- old name for "nitric acid," 1601, from L., lit. "strong water."

aquacade --- aquatic entertainment, 1937, Amer.Eng., from aqua- + -cade, from cavalcade (q.v.).

aqualung --- 1950, from L. aqua "water" + lung. Developed by Jacques Cousteau and Emile Gagnan, 1943.

aquamarine --- 1598, "bluish-green type of beryl," from Fr. or Prov., from L. aqua marina "sea water," from aqua "water" + marina, fem. of marinus "of the sea." Apparently first used as a description of a bluish-green color by John Ruskin, 1846. Abbreviation aqua is attested from 1936.

aquarium --- 1854, from L. neut. of aquarius, gen. of aqua "water." The word existed in L., but meant "drinking place for cattle." An earlier attempt at a name for "fish tank" was marine vivarium.

Aquarius --- 1398, faint constellation and 11th zodiac sign, from L., lit. "water carrier," properly an adj., "pertaining to water," a loan-translation of Gk. Hydrokhoos "the water-pourer," old Gk. name of this constellation. Aquarians were a former Christian sect that used water instead of wine at the Lord's Supper. The modern sense of the word is from Age of Aquarius (1940) an astrological epoch supposed to have begun in the 1960s, embodying the traits of this sign and characterized by world peace and human brotherhood. The term and the concept probably got a boost in popular use when An Aquarian Exposition was used as the sub-name of the Woodstock Music & Art Fair (1969).

aquatic --- 1490, from M.Fr., from O.Fr. aquatique, from L. aquaticus "watery," from aqua "water" (see aqua-)

aquatint --- 1782, "engraving made with aqua fortis" (q.v.), from It. acquatinta, from L. aqua tincta "dyed water."

aqueduct --- 1538, from L. aquæductus "conveyance of water," from aquæ, gen. of aqua "water," + ductus "a leading, conducting," pp. of ducere "to lead" (see duke).

aqueous --- 1643, from L. aqua "water," on analogy of Fr. aqueux.

aquifer --- 1901, coined from L. aqui-, comb. form of aqua "water" + -fer "bearing," from ferre "to bear" (see infer).

aquiline --- 1646, from L. aquilinus "of or like an eagle," from aquila "eagle." Originally in Eng. in ref. to long, hooked noses.

Arab (n.) --- c.1391 (Arabiens), from O.Fr. Arabe, from L. Arabs (acc. Arabem), from Gk. Araps (gen. Arabos), from Arabic 'arab, indigenous name of the people, perhaps lit. "inhabitant of the desert" (rel. to Heb. arabha "desert"). As a prized type of horse, it is attested from 1666. Meaning "homeless little wanderer, child of the street" is from 1848, in ref. to nomadic ways. Arab League formed in Cairo, March 22, 1945. Arabic numerals (actually Indian) first attested 1727; they were introduced in Europe by Gerbert of Aurillac (later Pope Sylvester II) after a visit to Islamic Spain in 967-970. A prominent man of science, he taught in the diocesan school at Reims, but the numbers made little headway against fierce conservative opposition in the Church until after the Crusades. The earliest depiction of them in Eng., in "The Crafte of Nombrynge" (c.1350) correctly identifies them as "teen figurys of Inde."

arabesque --- 1611, "Moorish or Arabic ornamental design," from Fr. arabesque, from It. arabesco, from Arabo "Arab," with reference to Moorish architecture. As a ballet pose, first attested 1830. Musical sense, in ref. to an ornamented theme, is from 1864, originally the title given by Robert Schumann to one of his piano pieces.

arable --- c.1410, "capable of being plowed" (as opposed to pasture- or wood-land), from O.Fr. arable, from L. arabilis, from arare "to plow," from PIE *are- "to plow" (cf. Gk. aroun, O.C.S. orja, Lith. ariu "to plow;" Goth. arjan, O.E. erian, M.Ir. airim, Welsh arddu "to plow;" O.N. arþr "a plow"). Replaced native erable, from O.E. erian "to plow."

arachnid --- 1869, from Fr. arachnide (1806), introduced as name for this class of arthropods 1815 by Fr. biologist Jean Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet de Lamarck (1744-1829), from Gk. arachne "spider," which probably is cognate with L. aranea "spider, spider's web" (from aracsna).

Aramaic --- northern branch of Sem. language group, 1834, from biblical land of Aram, roughly corresponding to modern Syria, probably related to Heb. and Aram. rum "to be high," thus originally "highland."

arbalest --- crossbow, c.1100, from O.Fr. arbaleste, from V.L. arbalista, from L.L. arcuballista "catapult," from L. arcus "bow" (see arc) + ballista "machine for throwing projectiles" (see ballistic).

arbiter --- 1502, from L. arbiter "one who goes somewhere (as witness or judge)," from ad- "to" + baetere "to come, go." The spec. sense of "one chosen by two disputing parties to decide the matter" is from 1549. Arbitration in this sense is from 1634 (see also arbitrate). The earliest form of the word attested in Eng. is the fem. noun arbitress (1340) "a woman who settles disputes."

arbitrary --- 1424 (in arbitrament), "deciding by one's own discretion," from L. arbitrarius, from arbiter (see arbiter). The original meaning gradually descended to "capricious" (1646) and "despotic" (1642).

arbitrate --- 1590, from L. arbitratus pp. of arbitrari "to give a decision," from arbiter (see arbiter). In modern usage, an arbiter makes decisions of his own accord and is accountable to no one but himself; an arbitrator (1424) decides issues referred to him by the parties.

arbor --- c.1300, herber, "herb garden," from O.Fr. erbier, from L. herba "grass, herb." Later "a grassy plot" (c.1325), "a shaded nook" (c.1350). Probably not from L. arbor "tree," though influenced by its spelling.

Arbor Day --- the day set aside for the planting of trees, first celebrated 1872 in Nebraska, the brainchild of J. Sterling Morton. From L. arbor "tree," of unknown origin.

arbor vitae --- type of evergreen shrub, 1664, name given by Fr. physician and botanist Charles de Lécluse, from L., lit. "tree of life." Used in late 18c. rogue's slang as a cant word for "penis."

arboreal --- c.1667, from L. arbor "tree," of unknown origin.

arboretum --- 1838, from L., lit. "a place grown with trees," from arbor "tree," of unknown origin.

arc --- c.1386, from O.Fr. arc, from L. arcus "a bow, arch," from PIE base *arqu- "bowed, curved" (cf. Goth. arhvazna "arrow," O.E. earh, O.N. ör). Electrical sense is from 1821.

arcade --- 1731, from It. arcata "arch of a bridge," from L. arcus (see arc). Applied to passages formed by a succession of arches, avenues of trees, and ultimately to any covered avenue, especially one lined with shops (1731) or amusements; hence arcade game (1977).

Arcadian --- ideally rustic or rural, 1590, from Gk. Arkadia, district in the Peloponnesus, taken by poets as an ideal region of rural felicity, from Gk. Arkas (gen. Arkadas), name of the founder of Arcadia.

arcane --- 1547, from L. arcanus "secret, hidden," from arcere "close up," from arca "chest, box," from PIE *ark- "to hold, contain, guard" (cf. Gk. arkos "defense," Arm. argel "obstacle," Lith. raktas "key," rakinti "to shut, lock"). Arcana "hidden things" (1599) is a direct adoptation of the L. plural of arcanum, neut. of arcanus.

arch (adj.) --- 1547, "chief, principal," from prefix arch- (from Gk. arkhos "chief;" see archon); used in 12c. archangel, etc., but extended to so many derogatory uses (arch-rogue, arch-knave, etc.) that it acquired a meaning of "roguish, mischievous," since softened to "saucy" (1662). Also found in archwife (c.1386) "A wife of a superior order."

arch (n.) --- 1297, from O.Fr. arche "arch of a bridge," from L. arcus (see arc). Replaced native bow. Transferred 1590 to anything having this form (eyebrows, etc.). The verb meaning "to curve" is from 1625. Archway is from 1802.

Archaean --- of the earliest geological age, 1872, from Gk. arkhaios "ancient," from arkhe "beginning" (see archon).

archaeology --- 1607, "ancient history," from Fr. archéologie, from Gk. arkhaiologia "the study of ancient things," from arkhaios "ancient" (see Archaean). Meaning "scientific study of ancient peoples" first recorded 1837.

archaeopteryx --- oldest known fossil bird, 1859, from Gk. arkhaio-, combining form of arkhaios "ancient, primitive" (see Archaean) + pteryx "wing."

archaic --- 1832, originally of words no longer in use, from Fr. archaique, ult. from Gk. arkhaikos "old-fashioned," from arkhaios "ancient" (see Archaean). Archaism "an archaic word or expression" is attested from 1748.

archangel --- c.1175, from L.L. archangelus, from Gk. arkhangelos "chief angel," from arkh- "chief, first" (see archon) + angelos (see angel). Replaced O.E. heah encgel.

archbishop --- O.E. ærcebiscop, from L.L. archiepiscopus, from Gk. arkhi- "chief" (see archon) + episkopos "overseer." Replaced earlier O.E. heah biscop (see bishop). Archdiocese is recorded from 1844.

archduke --- 1530, from M.Fr., from O.Fr. archeduc, from Merovingian L. archiducem (c.750), from arch- (see arch (adj.)) + duke (q.v.). Formerly the title of the rulers of Austrasia, Lorraine, Brabant, and Austria; later the titular dignity of the sons of the Emperor of Austria.

archer --- 1297, from O.Fr. archier, from L. arcarius, from arcus "bow" (see arc). Also a 17c. name for the bishop in chess. Archery is c.1400, from O.Fr. archerie.

archetype --- original pattern from which copies are made, 1545, from L. archetypum, from Gk. arkhetypon "pattern, model," neut. of adj. arkhetypos "first-moulded," from arkhe- "first" (see archon) + typos "model, type, blow, mark of a blow." Jungian psychology sense of "pervasive idea or image from the collective unconscious" is from 1919.

Archibald --- male proper name, from O.H.G. Erchanbald, lit. "genuine bold," from erchan "genuine" + bald (see bold). Archie, British WWI military slang for "German anti-aircraft fire" (1915) supposedly is from black humor of airmen dodging hostile fire and thinking of the refrain of a popular music hall song, "Archibald, certainly not!"

archipelago --- 1502, from It. arcipelago "the Aegean Sea" (13c.), from Gk. arkhipelagos, from arkhi- "chief" (see archon) + pelagos "sea." Aegean Sea being full of island chains, the meaning was extended in It. to "any sea studded with islands." Etymologists, noting the absence of arkhipelagos in ancient or Med.Gk. (the modern word in Gk. is borrowed from It.) believe it is an It. mistake for Aigaion pelagos "Aegean Sea" (M.L. Egeopelagus), or influenced by that name.

architect --- 1563, from M.Fr. architecte, from L. architectus, from Gk. arkhitekton "master builder," from arkhi- "chief" (see archon) + tekton "builder, carpenter" (see texture). Architecture also is from 1563.

architrave --- 1563, from It. architrave, from archi- "beginning, origin" + trave "beam," from L. trabem (nom. trabs).

archives --- 1603, from Fr. archif, from L.L. archivum (sing.), from Gk. ta arkheia "public records," pl. of arkheion "town hall," from arkhe "government," lit. "beginning, origin, first place" (see archon). The verb is first attested 1934.

archon --- one of the nine chief magistrates of ancient Athens, 1659, from Gk. arkhon "ruler," prp. of arkhein "to rule," from PIE *arkhein- "to begin, rule, command," a "Gk. verb of unknown origin, but showing archaic Indo-European features ... with derivatives arkhe, 'rule, beginning,' and arkhos, 'ruler' " [Watkins].

-archy --- suffix meaning "rule," from L. -archia, from Gk. -arkhia, from arkhos "leader, chief, ruler," from arkhe "beginning, origin, first place" (see archon).

Arctic --- c.1391, artik, from O.Fr. artique, from M.L. articus, from L. arcticus, from Gk. arktikos "of the north," lit. "of the (constellation) Bear," from arktos "bear," the Bear being a northerly constellation. From the usual I.E. base for "bear" (cf. Avestan aresho, Arm. arj, Alb. ari, L. ursus, Welsh arth); see bear (n.) for why the name changed in Gmc. The -c- was restored 1556. Arctic Circle (66 degrees 32 minutes north), first attested 1556, is that inside which the Great Bear never sets.

Arcturus --- c.1374, bright star in the constellation Bootes (also used of the whole constellation), anciently associated with the Bear, and is Gk. for "guardian of the bear." See Arctic; second element is from ouros "watcher, guardian, ward."

ardent --- c.1374, from O.Fr. ardant, from L. ardentem (nom. ardens), prp. of ardere "to burn," from PIE base *as- "to burn, glow" (cf. Skt. asah "ashes, dust," Arm. azazem "I dry up," Gk. azein "to dry up, parch," Goth. azgo, O.E. æsce "ashes," L. ardus "parched, dry"). The fig. sense (of passions, desire, etc.) was earliest in Eng.; literal sense of "burning, parching" (c.1440) remains rare. Ardent spirits (1471) "strong alcoholic liquor" so called because they are inflammable, but the term now, if used at all, probably is felt in the fig. sense.

ardor --- c.1386, "heat of passion or desire," from O.Fr. ardour, from L. ardorem (nom. ardor) "a flame, fire," from ardere "to burn" (see ardent). In M.E., used of base passions; since Milton's time, of noble ones.

arduous --- 1538, "high, steep, difficult to climb," from L. arduus "high, steep," from PIE base *eredh- "to grow, high" (see ortho-). Metaphoric extension to "difficult" first attested 1713.

are (n.) --- square unit of 10 meters on each side, 1819, from Fr., formed 1795 by decree of the French National Convention, from L. area "vacant piece of ground" (see area).

are (v.) --- present pl. indicative of be, from O.E. earun (Mercian), aron (Northumbrian), see be. Also from O.N. cognates. In 17c., began to replace be, ben as first person plural present indicative in standard English. The only non-dialectal survival of be in this sense is the powers that be. But in southwest England, we be (in Devonshire us be) remains non-standard idiom as a contradictory positive ("You people aren't speaking correct English." "Oh, yes we be!"). Aren't, contraction of are not, is first recorded 1794.

area --- 1538, "vacant piece of ground," from L. area "level ground, open space," of uncertain origin. Perhaps related to arere "to become dry," on notion of a burned clearing or dry, bare space. The generic sense of "amount of surface (whether open or not) contained within any set of limits" is from 1845. Area code in N.Amer. telephone systems is attested from 1961.