Etymologically
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ex

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Pronunciation

Etymology

The noun is a shortening of words formed with the prefix ex-, “former”, such as ex-husband and ex-wife;[2][3] Etymonline says it was first short for ex-Catholic.[4] The preposition is borrowed from Latin ex (“out of”),[5][6] the source of the prefix.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The noun, one who formerly held a position: 1827.[2][7][4] The adjective, “former, outdated”, is from 1823.[7]

Semantic evolution

As a former husband or wife it is from 1929 in Etymonline.[4] The preposition is used in Latin phrases, as ex officio (16th century) and ex cathedra (19th century),[5] and in commerce, “without, excluding”, as in ex dividend, from 1845.[7] The verb ex, to cross out with an x, is from before 1849.[7] Exes, expenses, is colloquial from 1864.[7]

Timeline

  • 1823 – adjective, former.[7]
  • 1827 – noun, a former office-holder.[2][7]
  • 1845 – preposition, without.[7]
  • before 1849 – verb, to cross out.[7]
  • 1929 – a former spouse.[4]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. (informal) A former husband, wife or partner.
  2. A person who formerly held a position or belonged to a group.
  3. The letter x.

Preposition

  1. (commerce) Without, not including: ex dividend.
  2. Sold from or delivered at: ex works.

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ 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