instrumental English · revision 10607

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1398|origins=fro instrumental|origins=la-med instrumentalis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|instrumental]], from Medieval Latin *īnstrūmentālis,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Latin īnstrūmentum, tool, apparatus (see [[instrument]]).^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Serving as an instrument or a means to an end: 1398 in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of music, performed on or written for instruments, is from 1509.^(OED 1989) Serviceable or useful is from about 1600,^(Etymonline) 1602 in the OED, and ''instrumental in'', playing an important part in bringing something about, from 1650.^(OED 1989) Performed with a material instrument or tool is from 1644.^(OED 1989) The noun, a piece of music for instruments only, is attested by 1940,^(Etymonline) and in grammar the instrumental case expresses the means by which something is done.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1398 – serving as a means.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1509 – of instrumental music.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1602 – useful, effective.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1650 – instrumental in.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1940 – an instrumental (noun).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Serving as a means; playing an important part: ''instrumental in the reform''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Performed on or written for musical instruments.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of or done with an [[instrument]] or tool.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(grammar)'' Of a [[case]] showing the means by which something is done.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A piece of music for instruments only, without singing.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[instrumentally]]

+ * [[instrumentalism]]

+ * [[uninstrumental]]

+ * [[instrumentality]]

+ * [[instrumentalist]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[instrument]]

+ * [[instruct]]

+ * [[construct]]

+ * [[structure]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}