anchor English · revision 10427

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 880|origins=la ancora|origins=grc ἄγκυρα|origins=ine-pro *h₂enk-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈæŋ.kə/, US /ˈæŋ.kɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English ancre, anker, [[bor|ang|ancor|t=anchor]], borrowed in the 9th century from Latin [[m|la|ancora]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Greek [[m|grc|ἄγκυρα|tr=ánkyra|t=anchor, hook]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from PIE *ang-, *ank-, to bend (see [[angle]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is said to be the only Latin nautical term used in the Germanic languages, as German [[m|de|Anker]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD) It was reinforced in Middle English by Old French ancre.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A device for holding a ship in place: about 880 in the OED, before 899 in Alfred's Boethius in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The figurative sense, that which gives stability or security, is from the late 14th century (1382).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The unetymological -ch- emerged in the late 16th century, a pedantic imitation of a corrupt Latin spelling anchora.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The verb is from about 1200.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The last runner in a relay is from 1934, and the end man of a tug-of-war team from 1909.^(OED 1989) The host of a radio or television programme is from 1965, short for [[anchorman]].^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Anchors'' as slang for brakes is from 1936.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 880 – a ship's anchor.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1200 – to anchor (verb).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1382 – a source of stability.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 16th century – the spelling with -ch-.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1934 – a relay runner.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1965 – a news anchor.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A heavy device dropped from a ship on a cable to grip the bottom and hold the ship in place.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something that holds another thing firmly in place.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A source of security or stability.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The member of a team who runs or performs the last stage of a relay or competition.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An anchorperson; the main presenter of a news broadcast.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To hold fast by or as by an anchor.^(AHD)

+ # To drop anchor or lie at anchor.^(AHD)

+ # To present or coordinate a news broadcast.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[anchorless]]

+ * [[anchorable]]

+ * [[anchorlike]]

+ * [[anchorage]]

+ * [[anchorman]]

+ * [[anchorperson]]

+ * [[coanchor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[angle]]

+ * [[ankle]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage note calls the word's history a case study in levels of sophistication, from Germanic borrowing of a Roman nautical term to the learned -ch- spelling.^(AHD) A separate anchor, a hermit, is from Old English ancra (see [[anchorite]]).^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}