echo English · revision 10399

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1340|origins=fro echo|origins=la echo|origins=grc ἠχώ}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɛk.əʊ/ ''(UK)''; /ˈɛk.oʊ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English ecko, eccho, [[bor|fro|echo]] and Latin ēchō,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from Greek [[m|grc|ἠχώ|tr=ēkhṓ|t=echo]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from or related to [[m|grc|ἠχή|tr=ēkhḗ|t=sound]] and ēkheîn, to resound,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from PIE *(s)wāgh-, to resound, source also of Latin vāgīre, to cry, and Old English swōgan, to resound.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) In Greek mythology Echo was a mountain nymph who pined for love of Narcissus until only her voice remained.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A sound repeated by reflection: 1340, in the ''Ayenbite of Inwit''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The modern spelling echo was introduced in the 17th century in imitation of Latin.^(Barnhart 1988) The verb is from before 1559 (the 1550s, intransitive), and transitive from about 1600.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The personified Echo is from 1592,^(OED 1989) ''to applaud to the echo'' from 1605,^(OED 1989) and a verse device repeating the end of the previous line from 1633.^(OED 1989) A radio echo is from 1928,^(OED 1989) and a radar echo from 1944.^(OED 1989) ''Echoic'' was proposed in 1880 by James Murray, first editor of the OED, for words imitating sounds.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1340 – a reflected sound.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1559 – to echo (verb).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1592 – Echo personified.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1633 – echo verse.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1880 – echoic.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1928 – a radio echo.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1944 – a radar echo.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A sound repeated by reflection from a surface, or the reflected sound.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A repetition or imitation, as of opinions.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A reminder or trace of something past.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A reflected radio or radar wave.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To repeat a sound by reflection; to [[reverberate]].^(AHD)

+ # To repeat or imitate the words or opinions of another.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[echoer]]

+ * [[echoey]]

+ * [[echoless]]

+ * [[anechoic]]

+ * [[echocardiogram]]

+ * [[echocardiography]]

+ * [[echogenic]]

+ * [[echogram]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[echoic]]

+ * [[echolocation]]

+ * [[catechism]]

+ * [[Narcissus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Echo is also the communications code word for the letter E.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}