stance English · revision 10306

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1532|origins=frm stance|origins=it stanza|origins=la stans}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /stɑːns/ ''(UK)''; /stæns/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably [[bor|frm|stance|t=resting place, harbour]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from Italian [[m|it|stanza|t=stopping place, station]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) from Vulgar Latin *stantia, from Latin stāns, stantis, present participle of stāre, to stand (see [[stand]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from PIE *sta-, to stand.^(Etymonline) It is a doublet of [[stanza]].^(Barnhart 1988) Merriam-Webster derives it instead from Middle French estance, position (see [[stanchion]]).^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A standing place, station or position: 1532 in Barnhart and the OED, the 1530s in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A site, especially for building, is from 1631, chiefly in Scots use,^(OED 1989) and a platform for a workman, or in mountaineering a ledge to stand on, from 1811.^(OED 1989) The position of the player's feet in golf and other games is from 1897,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) a manner of standing from 1929,^(Barnhart 1988) and the figurative sense, an attitude or point of view, from 1956 in Barnhart and 1960 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1532 – a standing place.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1631 – a building site (Scots).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1811 – a platform or ledge.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1897 – a golfer's stance.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1929 – a manner of standing.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1956 – an intellectual position.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The way a person or animal stands, especially an athlete's position before acting.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An attitude or point of view: ''a tough stance on crime''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(Scotland)'' A place where buses or taxis wait.^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(mountaineering)'' A ledge where a climber can stand and belay.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stand]]

+ * [[stanza]]

+ * [[stanchion]]

+ * [[circumstance]]

+ * [[distance]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}