liquor English · revision 10532

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200|origins=fro licour|origins=la liquor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈlɪk.ə/, US /ˈlɪk.ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|licour|t=fluid, liquid, sap]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) a learned borrowing of [[m|la|liquor|t=liquid, fluidity]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from liquēre, to be fluid (see [[liquid]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) French liqueur, borrowed later, is the same word (see [[liqueur]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A liquid: probably before 1200, in the Ancrene Riwle,^(Barnhart 1988) about 1200 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) before 1225 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A liquid for drinking is from before 1300,^(OED 1989) and the narrowed sense, an alcoholic drink, was in use by the early 16th century, with reference to intoxication from before 1529;^(OED 1989) today it means chiefly distilled spirits.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) Technical senses remain: a solution or bath used in a process (1583), and in brewing, water (1741).^(OED 1989) The verb, to moisten, is from about 1500, to supply with drink from the 1550s, and ''liquor up'', to get drunk, from 1845.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – a liquid.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1300 – a drink.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1500 – to liquor (verb).^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1529 – intoxicating drink.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1583 – a solution used in a process.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1845 – liquor up.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[alcoholic]] drink, especially a distilled [[spirit]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The liquid in which food has been cooked.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A [[solution]] of a substance in water, or a liquid used in an industrial process.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(brewing)'' Warm water added to malt.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(brewing)'' To steep malt.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' To make drunk, often with ''up''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[liquory]]

+ * [[antiliquor]]

+ * [[white liquor]]

+ * [[black liquor]]

+ * [[malt liquor]]

+ * [[mother liquor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[liqueur]]

+ * [[liquid]]

+ * [[liquidate]]

+ * [[liquidation]]

+ * [[liquidator]]

+ * [[liquidity]]

+ * [[liquefy]]

+ * [[lixivium]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}