invention English · revision 10377

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1350|origins=frm invention|origins=la inventio}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪnˈvɛnʃən/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English invencioun, from Old French invencion and directly [[bor|la|inventiō|t=faculty of invention]], inventiōnem,^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024) from inventus, past participle of invenīre, to come upon, find, devise (see [[invent]]),^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from in-, on, and venīre, to come (see [[venue]]).^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The action of coming upon or finding, discovery: before 1350 in the OED, the early 15th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Finding out rather than creating is the base sense.^(Cresswell 2021) The ''Invention of the Cross'', the reputed finding of the Cross by Helena, is from 1451,^(OED 1989) and in rhetoric the finding of topics or arguments from 1509.^(OED 1989) Devising or making up, fabrication, is from 1526,^(OED 1989) and the original contrivance of a new method or means of doing something from 1531.^(OED 1989) In art and literature the devising of a subject or idea is from 1638.^(OED 1989) A short contrapuntal composition on a single theme is a musical sense, as in Bach's two-part inventions.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) [[inventory|alt=Inventory]], a list of what is found, is from the same source.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1350 – a discovery.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1451 – the Invention of the Cross.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1509 – rhetorical invention.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1526 – a fabrication.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1531 – a new contrivance.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1638 – invention in art.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act or process of inventing.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A new device, method or process developed by study and experiment.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Creative skill; inventiveness.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A fabrication or lie.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(music)'' A short piece developing a single theme in counterpoint.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A discovery or finding.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[inventional]]

+ * [[inventionless]]

+ * [[preinvention]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[invent]]

+ * [[inventive]]

+ * [[inventor]]

+ * [[reinvent]]

+ * [[inventory]]

+ * [[convention]]

+ * [[venue]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Irish English, invention was also used as a verb, to invent.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}