portal English · revision 10589

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1380|origins=fro portal|origins=la-med portale|origins=la porta}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈpɔː.təl/, US /ˈpɔːr.t̬əl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|portal|t=gate]] and directly from Medieval Latin portāle, city gate, porch,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) the neuter of portālis, of a gate,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from Latin [[m|la|porta|t=gate]] (see [[port]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) The anatomical adjective is from New Latin portālis, from porta, the transverse fissure of the liver.^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A door or gateway, especially a large and imposing one: probably about 1380,^(Barnhart 1988) the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Etymonline notes the use for the whole architectural treatment of the entrance of a cathedral or grand building.^(Etymonline) The figurative sense is from about 1590.^(OED 1989) In anatomy, the valves of the heart were portals from 1615,^(Barnhart 1988) and the portal vein system from 1845.^(Barnhart 1988) An engineering frame with two uprights is from 1876 and a tunnel entrance from 1881,^(OED 1989) and the place where a drug or radiation enters the body from 1910.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In computing, a website that gives access to other sites dates from 1990 in the Historical Thesaurus.^(HTOED)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1380 – a gateway.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1590 – figurative use.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1615 – a valve of the heart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1845 – portal vein.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1990 – an internet portal.^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A doorway, [[entrance]] or [[gate]], especially a large and imposing one.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Any entrance or means of access.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(computing)'' A [[website]] that offers links to other sites.^(Collins 2023)^(COED 2004)

+ # The portal vein.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(anatomy)'' Of or relating to the portal vein, which carries blood to the [[liver]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[portaled]]

+ * [[portal-to-portal]]

+ * [[portal vein]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[port]]

+ * [[porch]]

+ * [[porter]]

+ * [[portico]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}