sponge English · revision 1056

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /spʌnd͡ʒ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|sponge]], [[inh|ang|sponge|t=sponge]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[bor|la|spongia|t=sponge; the sea animal from which it comes]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|grc|σπογγιά|tr=spongiá]], related to ''spóngos'' “sponge”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The Greek word is of unknown origin, probably a loanword from a non-Indo-European language.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The soft, light, porous framework of certain sea animals, used for wiping and cleaning (c. 1000).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In English the word was used of the living marine animal from the 1530s^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and of any sponge-like substance from about 1600.^(Etymonline) A person who absorbs without discrimination was a sponge by about 1600.^(Etymonline) The verb meant “to wipe with a sponge” from the late 14th century,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and in the 17th century it came to mean “to live at the expense of others” (1673);^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) at first the victim, who was “squeezed”, was the sponge, but by 1838 the parasite himself was called one.^(Etymonline) ''To throw up the sponge'', “to give in” (1860), comes from prizefighting, where sponges were used to clean the boxers' faces.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – Old English ''sponge''.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1392 – verb, to wipe with a sponge.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1538 – the marine animal.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1673 – verb, to live on others.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1801 – ''sponge-cake''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1838 – noun, a person who lives on others.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1860 – ''to throw up the sponge''.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Any of numerous aquatic, chiefly marine [[invertebrate|alt=invertebrates]] of the phylum [[Porifera]], with a porous skeleton, which usually live fixed to an underwater surface.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The light, absorbent skeleton of certain of these animals, used for bathing and cleaning; also, a similar porous material of rubber, plastic or [[cellulose]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A person who lives at the expense of others; a [[parasite]] or [[sponger]].^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A light, porous cake or pudding.^(AHD)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To wipe, moisten or clean with a sponge; to wipe out or erase.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To absorb with or as if with a sponge.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To live by relying on the generosity of others; to get (something) free.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To fish for sponges.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sponger]]

+ * [[spongy]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fungus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}