succeed

Pronunciation

• IPA: /səkˈsiːd/^[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English succeden, borrowed from Old French succeder (“to follow on”) and directly borrowed from Latin succēdere (“to come after, go near to; to go up; to prosper”),^[2][3][4][5] from sub- (“up, near, after”) and cēdere (“to go, yield”) (see cede),^[2][3][6] from PIE Proto-Indo-European *ked- (“to go, yield”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

To come next after and take the place of another: 1375, in Barbour's The Bruce.^[2][7] Etymonline also has it of being heir or successor to someone, or chosen for a position, in the late 14th century.^[3]

Semantic evolution

The Latin verb also meant to go up from under, and hence to get on well, prosper or be victorious.^[3][4] To follow in the course of events is from the 15th century,^[4] and to have a certain outcome, now always a fortunate one, also from the 15th, before 1475 in Barnhart.^[2][4] To attain a desired end is from the 16th century.^[4] To fall heir to or inherit is from 1490 but obsolete,^[7] and to follow by imitating from 1577.^[7] In Scots, succeed once also meant to cause to prosper.^[8] Success at first meant any result, good or bad (16th century).^[4]

Timeline

• 1375 – to come next after, in Barbour.^[2][7]
• 15th century – to follow in the course of events.^[4]
• before 1475 – to turn out well.^[2]
• 1503–4 – to follow as heir or successor.^[7]
• 16th century – to attain one's aim.^[4]

Modern meaning

Verb

1. To achieve what one has aimed for; to be successful.
2. Of a plan or attempt, to turn out as desired.
3. To come next after another in time or order; to follow.
4. To take someone's place in an office or position, especially as heir.

Word family

• succedent
• succeeder
• succeedable
• unsucceeded

Related words

• success
• succession
• successive
• successor
• cede
• proceed
• exceed

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 Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e f g h Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
7. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)