navigation English · revision 10436

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1527|origins=fr navigation|origins=la navigatio|origins=ine-pro *neh₂u-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /nævɪˈɡeɪʃən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from French navigation or directly [[bor|la|nāvigātiō|t=a sailing, voyage]], nāvigātiōnem,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) from nāvigāre, to sail, steer a ship (see [[navigate]]),^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from nāvis, ship (from PIE *nau-, boat), and the root of agere, to drive.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A voyage, a journey by water: about 1527, now rare;^(MWU 2024)^(OED 1989) moving on water in ships, the 1530s (1533).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The art or science of directing a ship's course, including finding its position, is from 1559.^(OED 1989) ''Inland navigation'', by canals and rivers, is from 1727.^(OED 1989) Travel through the air by aircraft is from 1804,^(OED 1989) and the science of directing aircraft or spacecraft from 1922.^(OED 1989) Reading the map for a car driver is from 1944.^(OED 1989) The Century Dictionary named the two fundamental problems of navigation as finding the ship's position and deciding the best course to a given point.^(Etymonline) In Midland English dialect a navigation is a canal.^(Collins 2023)^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1527 – a voyage.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1533 – sailing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1559 – the art of navigation.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1727 – inland navigation.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1804 – air navigation.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1922 – navigation of aircraft.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The skill or process of plotting a route and directing a ship, aircraft or vehicle along it.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The act of navigating: ''navigation of the river''.^(Collins 2023)

+ # Traffic by vessels; shipping.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(Midland English dialect)'' A canal or inland waterway.^(Collins 2023)^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[navigational]]

+ * [[navigationally]]

+ * [[astronavigation]]

+ * [[avigation]]

+ * [[geonavigation]]

+ * [[misnavigation]]

+ * [[nonnavigation]]

+ * [[renavigation]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[navigate]]

+ * [[navy]]

+ * [[naval]]

+ * [[nautical]]

+ * [[navvy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}