introduction

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌɪn.trəˈdʌk.ʃən/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English introduccioun, borrowed from Old French introduccion,^[2][3] and directly from Latin intrōductiō (“a leading in”),^[2][4] a noun of action from intrōdūcere “to lead in, bring in; found, establish”,^[2][3] from intrō- “inward” and dūcere “to lead”,^[2] from Proto-Indo-European *deuk- (“to lead”).^[2] It is related to introduce, conduct and produce.^[4][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Leading to or preparing the way for something: about 1386 in the OED;^[5] the act of bringing into existence, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Initial instruction in a subject and an introductory statement are from the mid-15th century (about 1430 in the OED).^[2][5] A preliminary explanation in a book is from 1529,^[5] and an elementary textbook from the 1520s in Etymonline and 1540 in the OED.^[2][5] Something newly brought in, such as a practice, is from 1603,^[5] and the action of bringing something in from 1651.^[5] The formal presentation of one person to another is from 1711.^[2] In music, an introductory passage is a later sense,^[6][7] and in finance an introduction is a way of issuing shares (1929).^[5]

Timeline

• c. 1386 – preparing the way for something.^[5]
• c. 1430 – instruction in the rudiments.^[5]
• 1529 – a preface to a book.^[5]
• 1540 – a textbook for beginners.^[5]
• 1603 – something newly introduced.^[5]
• 1711 – presenting one person to another.^[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. The act of bringing something into use or existence for the first time.
2. The formal presentation of one person to another.
3. A first part of a book, speech or piece of music that leads into the main part.
4. A book or course giving basic information on a subject.
5. A person's first experience of something.
6. Something recently introduced; an innovation.

Word family

• introductory
• reintroduction
• subintroduction

Related words

• introduce
• conduct
• produce
• duct

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 j k Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ a b Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
7. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins