compact English · revision 10252
17 Oct 2026, 02:16 by bogdan “en10k b0340: realm … rational”
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+ Compact, dense, is from Latin compāctus, put together; compact, an agreement, is from Latin compactum, from a different verb, compacīscī.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: /kəmˈpækt/; /ˈkɒmˌpækt/, /kəmˈpækt/ ''(UK)''; /ˈkɑmˌpækt/, /kəmˈpækt/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)
+
+ {{homograph|1|dense}}
+
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1398|origins=la compactus|origins=ine-pro *peh₂ǵ-}}
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is Middle English, through Old French compact or directly [[bor|la|compāctus|t=concentrated]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) the past participle of compingere, to fasten together, from com-, together, and pangere, to fix, fasten (see [[pact]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from PIE [[ine-pro|*peh₂ǵ-|alt=*pag-|t=to fasten]].^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Closely and firmly united, of substances: before 1398, in Trevisa's translation of Bartholomaeus.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ The verb, to consolidate, pack together, is from before 1425 (the early 15th century),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and the noun, a compacted body, from 1601.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) A small case for face powder is from 1921.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) A ''compact car'' is from 1960, and the ''compact disc'' from 1979.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * before 1398 – closely packed.^(Barnhart 1988)
+ * before 1425 – to pack together (verb).^(Barnhart 1988)
+ * 1601 – a compacted mass (noun).^(OED 1989)
+ * 1921 – a powder case.^(Barnhart 1988)
+ * 1960 – compact car.^(Etymonline)
+ * 1979 – compact disc.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Adjective===
+ # Closely and firmly packed together; [[dense]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # Taking up little space for its kind.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # Brief and to the point; [[concise]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # Having a short, solid build.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+
+ ===Verb===
+ # To press or join firmly together.^(AHD)
+ # To make by pressing together, or to combine.^(AHD)
+
+ ===Noun===
+ # A small case with a mirror, pressed powder and a puff.^(AHD)
+ # A car smaller than a medium-sized one.^(AHD)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[compactly]]
+ * [[compactness]]
+ * [[compaction]]
+ * [[compactor]]
+
+ {{homograph|2|agreement}}
+
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1590|origins=la compactum}}
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[bor|la|compactum|t=agreement]], the noun use of the neuter past participle of compacīscī, to come to an agreement,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from com-, together, and pacīscī, to covenant, contract (see [[pact]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ A covenant or contract between two or more parties: 1591, in Shakespeare's ''Henry VI, Part 1'', in Barnhart and the OED, the 1590s in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ In a bad sense, a confederacy or plot, it is from 1590 and obsolete.^(OED 1989) ''Social compact'' and ''family compact'' are from 1750.^(OED 1989) A verb, to make a compact, was used from the mid-16th to the late 17th century.^(SOED 2002)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 1590 – a plot.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1591 – an agreement.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1750 – social compact.^(OED 1989)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # An [[agreement]] or [[covenant]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[pact]]
+ * [[impact]]
+ * [[peace]]
+ * [[pay]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}