spark English · revision 10603

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725|origins=ang spearca}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /spɑːk/, US /spɑːrk/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|ang|spearca]], spærca (before 800),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|gem-pro|*spark-]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) cognate with Middle Low German and Middle Dutch sparke;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) Hoad calls it of unknown origin,^(Hoad 1986) while Barnhart compares Latvian spiřgsti, glowing coals, and Lithuanian sprāgēti, to crackle.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A small particle of fire, thrown off from burning wood or struck from iron: about 725.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The figurative spark that starts something, or a small trace (''a spark of hope''), is from about 888,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and the vital principle in human life from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) ''Sparks fly'', of heated words, is from 1732.^(OED 1989) The electrical spark, a flash between two conductors, is a later scientific sense,^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023) and ''spark plug'' is from 1903.^(Barnhart 1988) The verb, to give off sparks, is from about 1200,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and to set off or trigger is a modern figurative use.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) A spark was also a woman of great beauty or wit (1575), then a showy young man or a lover (from 1706–07, in Farquhar);^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Barnhart takes this as a figurative use of the fire word, while Merriam-Webster thinks it may be from Old Norse sparkr, lively.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – a particle of fire.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 888 – a trace, a beginning (figurative).^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1200 – to spark (verb).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1575 – a witty beauty.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1706–07 – a beau, lover.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1903 – spark plug.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A tiny burning particle thrown off by a fire or made by striking hard surfaces together.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A flash of light from an [[electric]] discharge.^(Collins 2023)

+ # A small trace of a quality or feeling: ''a spark of hope''.^(AHD)

+ # Liveliness or wit.^(AHD)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A fashionable young man; a suitor.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give off sparks.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To set off or [[trigger]]: ''to spark a debate''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sparker]]

+ * [[sparkish]]

+ * [[sparkless]]

+ * [[sparklessly]]

+ * [[sparklike]]

+ * [[sparkishly]]

+ * [[sparkishness]]

+ * [[sparkover]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sparkle]]

+ * [[speak]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}