polar

Pronunciation

• IPA: UK /ˈpəʊ.lə/, US /ˈpoʊ.lɚ/^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Medieval Latin polāris (“of the poles”),^[2][3][4] or French polaire,^[3] from Latin polus, end of an axis (see pole).^[2][3][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Of or near the poles of the earth or the heavens: 1551.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

The polar circle is also from 1551.^[2] Pointing to the earth's poles, as a magnetic needle, is from 1692.^[6] Of a central guiding principle is from 1799,^[2] and directly opposite in character, like the poles of a magnet, is first recorded in 1832.^[2][3] The poles of a battery are from 1836–41,^[6] and polar molecules in chemistry from 1913.^[6] Polar bear is from 1781,^[2][3] polar cap from 1894,^[2] and polarity from 1646.^[2]

Timeline

• 1551 – of the poles; polar circle.^[2]
• 1646 – polarity.^[2]
• 1692 – magnetic.^[6]
• 1781 – polar bear.^[2][3]
• 1832 – directly opposite.^[2][3]
• 1913 – polar (chemistry).^[6]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Of, near or coming from the North or South Pole: polar regions.
2. Of or having a pole or poles, as of a magnet or battery.
3. Directly opposite in character or nature.
4. (chemistry) Having an uneven distribution of electric charge.

Related words

• pole
• polarity
• polarize
• Polaris

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 l m Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press