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sponsor

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ˈspɒn.sə/, US /ˈspɑːn.sɚ/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin spōnsor (“sponsor at baptism; a surety, guarantor”),[2][3][4] from spōnsus, past participle of spondēre, to give assurance, promise solemnly (see spouse),[2][3] from Proto-Italic *spondejo-, to pledge, literally to pour libations,[3] from PIE *spondeio-, to libate, source also of Greek σπένδειν (spéndein, “to make a drink offering”) (compare spondee).[3] Spouse, correspond, respond and despond come from the same Latin verb.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

A godparent, one who answers for a child at baptism: 1651, the 1650s in Etymonline.[2][5][3]

Semantic evolution

A person who makes a formal promise on behalf of another is first recorded in 1677, in Miège's dictionary,[2][5] and the general sense, one who answers for another's conduct, by the 1670s.[3] The person or firm that pays for a radio broadcast in order to advertise is from 1931, and for television after 1947.[3][2][5] The verb, to support as a sponsor, is from 1882–84,[3][2] to pay for a broadcast from 1931,[3][2] to promote a bill in a legislature by 1961,[3][5] and to pledge money to fund-raisers by 1967.[3] Sponsorship is from 1809.[2]

Timeline

  • 1651 – a godparent.[2]
  • 1677 – one who pledges for another.[2]
  • 1809 – sponsorship.[2]
  • 1884 – to sponsor (verb).[2]
  • 1931 – a broadcast sponsor.[3]
  • 1961 – to sponsor a bill.[3]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A person or organization that pays for an event, project or broadcast, especially in return for advertising.
  2. A person who pledges money to someone taking part in a fund-raising activity.
  3. A person who takes responsibility for another, or who vouches for a candidate.
  4. A legislator who proposes a bill.
  5. A godparent at baptism or confirmation.

Verb

  1. To act as a sponsor for.

Word family

  • sponsorial
  • sponsorship
  • unsponsored
  • cosponsor

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