Etymologically
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resident

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 03:11. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈrez.ɪ.dənt/[1]

Etymology

The adjective is Middle English resident, borrowed from Old French resident and directly from Latin residēns (“remaining, settling”),[2][3][4] the present participle of residēre (“to sit down, settle”).[2][3] The noun is from the adjective.[2] See reside.[2][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Dwelling in a place: 1382 in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline.[6][2]

Semantic evolution

Staying in a place in the discharge of a duty, originally of clergy, is from 1426, the early 15th century in Etymonline.[6][2] The noun, an inhabitant, is from the mid-15th century.[2] Of qualities, inherent or established, it is from 1525.[6] In the 17th century a resident was also a diplomat ranking below an ambassador, and later a British representative in a protectorate.[7] Of animals and birds that do not migrate it is from 1828.[6] A doctor in hospital training is American from 1892.[2]

Timeline

  • 1382 – dwelling in a place.[6]
  • 1426 – residing for duty.[6]
  • mid-15th century – the noun, an inhabitant.[2]
  • 1828 – of animals, non-migratory.[6]
  • 1892 – a hospital doctor (US).[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A person who lives in a particular place.
  2. (US) A doctor who is getting advanced training in a hospital.
  3. (historical) A government representative living in a foreign country or protectorate.

Adjective

  1. Living in a particular place.
  2. Living at the place where one works: a resident tutor.
  3. Of a bird or animal, not migrating.

Word family

  • residentship
  • nonresident
  • residency
  • resident alien

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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins