further

Pronunciation

• IPA: UK /ˈfɜː.ðə/, US /ˈfɝː.ðɚ/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English further, inherited from Old English furþor (“forward, onward; farther; moreover”) (also forþor),^[2][3][4] a comparative formed on the base of forth.^[3][5][6] Etymonline explains it as either “forth-er” or “fore-ther”, and Watkins traces it to Proto-Germanic *furthera-, from Proto-Indo-European *pr-tero-, a comparative of the root meaning “forward”,^[2] related to Ancient Greek πρότερος (próteros, “former”).^[2][7] Old English also had the adjective furþra and the verb fyrþrian (“to advance, promote”).^[2][3] Its relatives include German fördern (“to promote”),^[2][7] and English farther and afford.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

To a more advanced point, forward: Old English furþor, about 1000.^[3]

Semantic evolution

Further replaced the comparative farrer of far, which lasted into the 17th century before giving way to its rival farther;^[2] the OED notes that the basic sense of both further and farther is “more forward”.^[2] The sense “in addition” is from the 12th century, and furthermore probably from about 1200, in the Ormulum.^[5][3] The adjective appears in 1155 as furthur,^[3] and in early Middle English it could mean “earlier, former”, so that a great-grandfather was a furþur ealdefader.^[2] The verb, “to help forward”, continues Old English fyrþrian,^[3][2] and furtherance is from about 1435.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 1000 – Old English furþor.^[3]
• 12th century – in addition.^[5]
• 1155 – adjective, furthur.^[3]
• c. 1200 – furthermore (Ormulum).^[3]
• c. 1435 – furtherance.^[3]

Modern meaning

Adverb

1. To a greater extent; more.
2. In addition; furthermore.
3. At or to a more distant or advanced point.

Adjective

1. More distant in space, time or degree.
2. Additional: further details.

Verb

1. To help the progress of; to advance.

Word family

• furtherer
• furtherance
• furthermost
• furthermore
• further education

Related words

• farther
• forth
• furthest
• afford

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 d e f g h i Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
4. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
5. ^ a b c Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
7. ^ a b c Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1966–1967.