cosmopolitan

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌkɒz.məˈpɒl.ɪ.tən/ (UK); /ˌkɑz.məˈpɑl.ɪ.tən/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

Formed in English from cosmopolite “citizen of the world” with the suffix -an, on the pattern of metropolitan.^[2][3][4] Cosmopolite is from Ancient Greek κοσμοπολίτης (kosmopolítēs, “citizen of the world”), from Ancient Greek κόσμος (kósmos, “world”) + πολίτης (polítēs, “citizen”).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

As a noun, a cosmopolite (c. 1645);^[5][6][3] as an adjective, free from local or national prejudices (1798 in Merriam-Webster; 1815 in Etymonline; 1844 in Barnhart and the OED).^[6][3][2][5]

Semantic evolution

The adjective came to mean “belonging to all parts of the world” (1833–48)^[3][5] and “composed of people of all nations” (1840).^[3][5] In natural history a cosmopolitan species is one found in many parts of the world (1860).^[5][7][6] Cosmopolitanism, the idea of all humanity as one community, dates from 1828, though in the mid-20th century it took on a negative colouring in some political rhetoric.^[3] The vodka cocktail called a cosmopolitan dates from the late 1980s.^[3][1]

Timeline

• c. 1645 – noun, a cosmopolite.^[5][6]
• 1798 – adjective (Merriam-Webster).^[6]
• 1840 – composed of many nationalities.^[3]
• 1860 – of a species, widely distributed.^[5]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. So sophisticated as to be at home in all parts of the world; free from local or national prejudice; worldly.
2. Composed of people or elements from many parts of the world, as in a cosmopolitan city.
3. Of the whole world; not limited to one country.
4. (biology) Found in many parts of the world; widely distributed.

Noun

1. A cosmopolitan person; a cosmopolite.
2. A cocktail of vodka, triple sec, lime juice and cranberry juice.

Word family

• cosmopolitanism

Related words

• cosmopolite
• cosmos
• metropolitan
• politics
• urbane

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
5. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
7. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin