convenience English · revision 10495

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1413|origins=la convenientia|origins=ine-pro *gʷem-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kənˈviːnɪəns/ ''(UK)''; /kənˈvinjəns/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English, from Middle French or directly [[bor|la|convenientia|t=a meeting together, agreement, harmony]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) from conveniēns, present participle of convenīre, to come together, agree, be suitable (see [[convene]], [[convenient]]),^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from com-, together, and venīre, to come (from PIE *gwa-, to go, come).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Agreement, conformity, congruity: the late 14th century in Etymonline, 1413 in the OED; now obsolete.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Fitness, aptitude (about 1430) and an agreement or covenant (1551) are obsolete.^(OED 1989) The quality of being suitable or well adapted to one's purpose is from 1601.^(OED 1989) That which gives ease or comfort, a convenient article or appliance, is from the 1670s,^(Etymonline) and the quality of being personally easy from 1703.^(Etymonline) A lavatory, especially a public one, is a British euphemism.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) ''Convenience store'' is attested by 1965,^(Etymonline) and the adjective, ''convenience food'', is from 1917 in Merriam-Webster.^(MWU 2024) A verb convenience, to accommodate, was used from the mid-17th century.^(SOED 2002)^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1413 – agreement.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1601 – suitability.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1670s – a convenient article.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1703 – personal ease.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1917 – convenience (adjective).^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1965 – convenience store.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The quality of being suitable or easy to use; usefulness or ease.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Personal comfort or advantage: ''at your convenience''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A labour-saving device or useful thing.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(chiefly British, euphemistic)'' A public lavatory.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[convenience food]]

+ * [[convenience store]]

+ * [[flag of convenience]]

+ * [[marriage of convenience]]

+ * [[public convenience]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[convene]]

+ * [[convenient]]

+ * [[convent]]

+ * [[convention]]

+ * [[venue]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}