availability

Pronunciation

• IPA: /əˌveɪ.ləˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ (UK); /əˌveɪ.ləˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from available and -ity,^[2][3] as -ability after available.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The quality of being available, capability of advantageous use: 1803.^[4][2][3][5]

Semantic evolution

In American politics it meant the quality in a candidate that suggests a good chance of success, apart from merit, through personal popularity (1848);^[4][6] Bartlett noted the same thing in the papal elections, where a candidate's old age often favoured him.^[6] Chambers marks this sense archaic.^[7] Something available, an available person or thing, is from 1840 in HTOED and 1867 in the OED.^[5][4]

Timeline

• 1803 – being available.^[4]
• 1840 – that which is available.^[5]
• 1848 – electability (US politics).^[4]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. The quality or state of being available.
2. An available person or thing.
3. (US politics, archaic) A candidate's prospect of success through popularity rather than merit.

Word family

• bioavailability
• interavailability

Related words

• available
• avail
• value

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c Kay, Christian; Roberts, Jane; Samuels, Michael; Wotherspoon, Irené, eds. (2009), Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford: Oxford University Press; online edition (2024)
6. ^ a b Bartlett, John Russell (1848), Dictionary of Americanisms, New York: Bartlett and Welford
7. ^ The Chambers Dictionary (2008), 11th ed., Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap