opener

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈəʊ.pən.ə/ (UK); /ˈoʊ.pən.ɚ/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old English openere, an agent noun from open.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

One who or that which opens: Old English openere in Etymonline;^[2] the OED's first quotation is from 1548.^[3]

Semantic evolution

A tool or machine for opening is from about 1600,^[2] and specifically a device for opening tins or bottles from 1906.^[3] An opening medicine, a laxative, is from 1610.^[3] In card games, the player who opens the betting is from 1880, and the cards on which a player may open from 1902.^[3] The first of a series of events or games is from 1941,^[3] and in cricket an opening batsman from 1950.^[3] For openers, to begin with, is from 1967.^[3]

Timeline

• Old English – openere.^[2]
• c. 1600 – a tool for opening.^[2]
• 1906 – a tin opener.^[3]
• 1941 – the first of a series.^[3]
• 1967 – for openers.^[3]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A device for opening containers: a bottle opener.
2. The first event, act or game in a series or show.
3. A person who opens, especially the player who makes the first bid; in cricket, an opening batsman.
4. For openers: to begin with.

Word family

• eye-opener
• door opener

Related words

• open
• opening

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press