static English · revision 10361

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1638|origins=la-new staticus|origins=grc στατικός}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈstæt.ɪk/ ''(UK)''; /ˈstæt.ɪk/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a shortened form of the earlier [[statical]] (1560s–1570),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from New Latin staticus, statica,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Greek [[m|grc|στατικός|tr=statikós|t=causing to stand, skilled in weighing]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from statós, the verbal stem of [[m|grc|ἱστάναι|tr=histánai|t=to make stand, place in the balance, weigh]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from PIE *sta-, to stand (see [[stand]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Relating to the effects of weight and the conditions of equilibrium: 1638 in Barnhart and the OED, the 1630s in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Relating to weighing is from 1646,^(OED 1989) and of a mental condition, balanced, from 1652 (obsolete).^(OED 1989) Having to do with bodies at rest or forces in equilibrium, as opposed to dynamic, is from 1839 in Barnhart and 1850 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The electrical sense, of frictional as opposed to voltaic electricity, is first recorded in Faraday in 1839 (as statical in 1837).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The general sense, in a fixed or stable condition, is from 1856,^(Barnhart 1988) and in economics, in equilibrium, from 1899.^(OED 1989) The noun, random radio noise, is from 1912,^(Etymonline) and figuratively, aggravation or criticism, from 1926.^(Etymonline) The science of statics was first ''static'', a noun of 1570.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1570 – the science of weight (noun).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1638 – relating to weight.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1839 – static electricity; at rest.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1856 – fixed, unchanging.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1912 – radio noise.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1926 – criticism.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Not moving or changing; at rest or [[stationary]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Relating to bodies at rest or forces in equilibrium.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of or producing stationary electric charges; [[electrostatic]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Relating to interference in radio or television reception.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Crackling noise or specks caused by atmospheric interference in a receiver.^(AHD)

+ # Static electricity.^(MWU 2024)

+ # ''(informal)'' Angry criticism or interference.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[statical]]

+ * [[statically]]

+ * [[staticky]]

+ * [[astatic]]

+ * [[geostatic]]

+ * [[hyperstatic]]

+ * [[isostatic]]

+ * [[orthostatic]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stasis]]

+ * [[statics]]

+ * [[stand]]

+ * [[status]]

+ * [[state]]

+ * [[stationary]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}