scan English · revision 10241

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1398|origins=la scandere|origins=ine-pro *skand-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /skæn/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English scannen, earlier scanden,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) [[bor|la|scandere|t=to scan verse]], which in Classical Latin meant to climb or mount,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from PIE [[ine-pro|*skand-|t=to spring, leap, climb]] (see [[scale]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) source also of Greek [[m|grc|σκάνδαλον|tr=skándalon|t=trap, stumbling block]] and Sanskrit [[m|sa|स्कन्दति|tr=skándati|t=he leaps]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) The Late Latin sense probably alludes to raising and lowering the foot to mark the rhythm,^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) although Etymonline calls the image unclear.^(Etymonline) English lost the Latin -d-, probably because it was taken for the past-participle ending -ed.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To mark off verse into metrical feet, to analyse verse by its metre: before 1398, in Trevisa's translation of Bartholomaeus.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the metrical sense the verb came to mean to estimate the correctness of something and to examine minutely,^(Cresswell 2021)^(Hoad 1986) and in the late 18th century to look at searchingly.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Hoad 1986) The intransitive sense, to conform to the rules of metre, is by 1857.^(Etymonline) New technology brought the meaning to pass over systematically with a scanner, especially to convert into signals, in 1928,^(Etymonline) and almost the opposite sense, to look over quickly or skim, is attested by 1926.^(Etymonline) The American Heritage usage panel of 1969 accepted the skimming sense, with 85 percent approval.^(AHD) The noun, a close investigation, is from 1706,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) and an image obtained by scanning from 1953.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1398 – to analyse verse.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1706 – the noun, close scrutiny.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1857 – to conform to a metre.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1926 – to skim.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1928 – to pass a beam over.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1953 – an image obtained by scanning.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To examine closely.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To look over quickly; to [[skim]] or glance through.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To analyse [[verse]] into metrical patterns, or to conform to a metre.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To move a beam of light, electrons or radar systematically over a surface or region, to read or reproduce an image or search for a target.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To search stored data automatically for particular items.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An act of scanning.^(AHD)

+ # An examination of the body with a scanner, or the image it produces.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[scannable]]

+ * [[scanner]]

+ * [[CAT scan]]

+ * [[CT scan]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[scansion]]

+ * [[scandal]]

+ * [[ascend]]

+ * [[descend]]

+ * [[scale]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Because scan once meant to examine closely, using it for a quick look was criticized, but the American Heritage panel accepted that use in 1969.^(AHD) In Lakeland and Yorkshire dialect, scan meant to look or peep.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}