musician

Pronunciation

• IPA: /mjuːˈzɪʃ.ən/^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Old French musicien (14th century),^[2][3][4] from Latin mūsica (see music) and the suffix -ien (see -ian),^[4] or a native formation from music and -ian.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

A person skilled in music: about 1374 in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^[5][2]

Semantic evolution

The professional performer, especially of instrumental music, is from about 1450.^[5][2] A female musician was once a musicianess (1829).^[5]

Timeline

• c. 1374 – one skilled in music.^[5]
• c. 1450 – a professional performer.^[5][2]
• 1829 – musicianess.^[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A person who plays, composes or conducts music, especially as a profession.

Word family

• musicianly
• musicianship

Related words

• music
• muse
• musical

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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press