unto

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈʌn.tuː/^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from un-, up to, as far as, the first element of until, which is of Scandinavian origin, and to,^[2][3][4][5] with southern to replacing northern till.^[6][7] Etymonline also allows a contraction of a native *und to.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

To, as far as: about 1250 in Barnhart, the mid-13th century in Etymonline;^[2][6] before 1300 in the OED, of motion towards and reaching a place.^[8]

Semantic evolution

It was used in all the senses of to except before an infinitive,^[3] and as until (archaic) from the 13th century.^[3] It survives today chiefly in poetic, biblical or archaic use (do unto others).^[8][4]

Timeline

• c. 1250 – unto.^[2]
• before 1300 – motion towards a place.^[8]

Modern meaning

Preposition

1. (archaic) To.
2. (archaic) Until.

Word family

• hereunto
• thereunto
• whereunto

Related words

• until
• to
• into

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 Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
5. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ a b c Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press