paragraph English · revision 10454

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1500|origins=frm paragraphe|origins=grc παράγραφος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpæɹəɡɹɑːf/ ''(UK)''; /ˈpæɹəɡɹæf/, /ˈpɛɹəɡɹæf/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|paragraphe]] and directly from Medieval Latin paragraphus, a sign marking a new section,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Greek [[m|grc|παράγραφος|tr=parágraphos|t=short stroke in the margin marking a break in sense]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from paragráphein, to write beside, from pará-, beside (see [[para-]]), and gráphein, to write.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A distinct section of a composition, originally marked by a sign such as ¶: before 1500, in the ''Promptorium Parvulorum'';^(Barnhart 1988) about 1500 in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The forms paragraf and paragraph replaced earlier paraf (about 1395, in Wycliffe), from Medieval Latin paraffus;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) in the 16th century the spelling was re-Latinized in English and French.^(Etymonline) The sense shifted from the mark to the thing itself.^(Etymonline) The mark is recorded from 1538, and a section of a law from 1552.^(OED 1989) A short notice in a newspaper is from 1769.^(OED 1989) The verb meant to sign or initial in 1601, to write paragraphs about in 1764, and to divide into paragraphs in 1799.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1395 – paraf.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1500 – a section of writing.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1538 – the paragraph mark.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1552 – a section of a law.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1769 – a newspaper paragraph.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1799 – to divide into paragraphs.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A distinct section of writing, usually on one topic, beginning on a new and often indented line.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The mark ¶ used to show where a new paragraph begins or as a reference mark.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A short article or notice in a newspaper.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To divide or arrange into paragraphs.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[paragraphic]]

+ * [[paragraphism]]

+ * [[paragrapher]]

+ * [[subparagraph]]

+ * [[paragraph mark]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[paraph]]

+ * [[graph]]

+ * [[para-]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}