Etymologically
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republican

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /rɪˈpʌb.lɪ.kən/[1]

Etymology

It is formed from English republic + -an,[2][3] partly after French républicain;[3] Merriam-Webster takes it as an adaptation of the French word, from Middle French republicain, from republique.[4] Earlier adjectives included republical (1650s) and republicarian (1680s).[2] It is related to republic and public.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Belonging to the commonwealth or community, an obsolete sense: 1691 in the OED.[5] Merriam-Webster dates the word to 1653.[4]

Semantic evolution

“Belonging to a republic, of the nature of a republic” is from 1712.[2][5] The noun, one who favours a republican form of government, is from the 1690s;[2] Johnson defined it as “one who thinks a commonwealth without monarchy the best government”.[6][2] Of persons and parties favouring a republic it is from 1793.[5] With a capital, it was the name of a United States party (the Anti-Federalists) from 1782,[2] and the adjective is used of American parties by 1806,[2][5] but the modern Republican Party dates from 1854.[2] The French republican calendar was in use from 1793 to 1805.[2] In ornithology, of birds that nest in large colonies, it is from 1829.[5]

Timeline

  • 1653 – first known use.[4]
  • 1690s – noun, a supporter of republics.[2]
  • 1712 – of a republic.[2][5]
  • 1782 – an American party member.[2]
  • 1793 – favouring a republic.[5]
  • 1829 – of colonial birds.[5]
  • 1854 – the modern Republican Party.[2]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Of, relating to or characteristic of a republic.
  2. Favouring a republic as the best form of government.
  3. Republican, of the Republican Party of the United States.

Noun

  1. One who favours a republic as the best form of government.
  2. Republican, a member of the Republican Party of the United States.

Word family

  • republicanism
  • antirepublican
  • nonrepublican
  • republicanize
  • unrepublican

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 n Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Johnson, Samuel (1755), A Dictionary of the English Language, London; 4th ed. 1773; Johnson's Dictionary Online, ed. Beth Rapp Young et al.