Etymologically
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appreciation

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /əˌpɹiː.ʃiˈeɪ.ʃən/ (UK); /əˌpɹi.ʃiˈeɪ.ʃən/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from French appréciation, from Middle French apreciation, from aprecier, to appraise,[2][3] and Late Latin appretiatio (“valuation”), from appretiāre (“to set a price on, appraise”) (see appreciate).[2][4][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The estimating of the quality and worth of something: 1604 in the OED, about 1600 in Etymonline.[5][2] An isolated Middle English appreciacioun of about 1400 is of uncertain meaning.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

High estimation, sympathetic recognition of excellence, is from 1650,[5][2] and a rise in value from 1784 (1789–96 in the OED).[2][5] The act of setting a money value is from 1799.[5][2] An expression of one's estimate, often favourable, is from 1858.[2][5] Gratitude, thanks, is the first sense in Collins.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 1400 – isolated, unclear sense.[2]
  • 1604 – estimation of worth.[5]
  • 1650 – high estimation.[5]
  • 1784 – a rise in value.[2]
  • 1858 – a favourable account.[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. Gratitude or thanks.
  2. Recognition of the quality or value of people and things.
  3. Sensitive awareness, especially of aesthetic qualities.
  4. A favourable written assessment, as of a book.
  5. A rise in value or price.

Word family

  • appreciational
  • nonappreciation
  • unappreciation

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins