Etymologically
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welcome

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈwel.kəm/[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English welcume,[2][3] inherited from Old English wilcuma (“welcome guest, welcome!”), with the first part altered under the influence of well,[4][2][5] from Old English willa (“pleasure, desire, will”) + cuma (“guest, comer”),[4][2][6] the second related to cuman (“to come”).[4][2] Etymologically it is “one whose coming suits another's wish”.[4] Old High German willicomo is a similar formation.[4][2] The change of wil- to wel- may also reflect Old Norse velkominn or Old French bien venu.[6][3][2] It is related to will and come.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The noun, “a welcome guest”, is found about 725, in Beowulf,[2] and the adjective “acceptable” there too;[2] the greeting wilcuma is from about 890.[2]

Semantic evolution

The verb, Old English wilcumian, “to greet kindly”, is from about 1000.[2][4] The form welcume is from about 1150.[2] Of things and events, “gladly permitted”, is from about 1200.[4] The noun meaning a kindly greeting or reception is from 1525.[2][7][4] You're welcome, in answer to thanks, is attested by 1907.[4][7] The welcome mat is by 1908, and the welcome wagon from 1940.[4] The surname Welcome is from the 13th century, though some forms may come from well-kembed, “with a well-trimmed beard”.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 725 – a welcome guest; acceptable.[2]
  • c. 890 – the greeting wilcuma.[2]
  • c. 1000 – verb, to greet kindly.[2]
  • c. 1150 – the form welcume.[2]
  • 1525 – noun, a kindly greeting.[2][7]
  • 1907 – you're welcome.[4][7]
  • 1908 – welcome mat.[4]

Modern meaning

Interjection

  1. Used to greet a visitor or new arrival.

Adjective

  1. Gladly received: a welcome guest.
  2. Giving pleasure; agreeable: welcome news.
  3. Freely allowed: you're welcome to try.
  4. (you're welcome) Said in reply to thanks.

Noun

  1. A friendly greeting or reception.

Verb

  1. To greet or receive someone gladly.
  2. To accept gladly: welcome the news.

Word family

  • welcomely
  • welcomeness
  • welcomer
  • unwelcome
  • unwelcomed
  • unwelcoming
  • welcome mat
  • Welcome Wagon
  • well
  • will
  • come
  • farewell

Usage notes

In Scots and northern English dialect as welcome as two fiddlers meant “very welcome”, but as welcome as water in one's shoes meant “not welcome at all”.[8]

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 o p q r Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (2000), 4th ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  6. ^ a b Soanes, Catherine; Stevenson, Angus, eds. (2004), Concise Oxford English Dictionary, 11th ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  7. ^ a b c d 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)