fossil English · revision 10629

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1563|origins=fr fossile|origins=la fossilis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈfɒs.əl/, US /ˈfɑː.səl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|fossile]] (16th century),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Latin fossilis, dug up,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from fossus, past participle of fodere, to dig (see [[bed]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As an adjective, obtained by digging, found buried in the earth: 1563 in the OED;^(OED 1989) as a noun, a rock or mineral dug out of the earth, 1619 in Barnhart, the 1610s in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The NODE says it first denoted a fossilized fish found, and thought to have lived, underground.^(NODE 1998)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Fossil fishes were believed in the 17th century to live in water underground (1661).^(OED 1989) The narrower sense, the remains of a plant or animal of a past age preserved in rock, is from 1665,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) for the noun 1736 in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) The slang sense, an old or old-fashioned person, is first recorded in 1859.^(Etymonline) ''Fossil fuel'' (1833 in Etymonline, 1835 in the OED) keeps the older, broader sense.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Fossilize'' is from 1794.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1563 – dug from the earth.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1619 – a mineral dug up (noun).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1665 – the remains of an organism.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1794 – fossilize.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1833 – fossil fuel.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1859 – an old-fashioned person.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The remains or trace of a plant or animal of a past geological age, preserved in [[rock]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' An old or [[old-fashioned]] person or idea.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or like a fossil; preserved in rock.^(AHD)

+ # [[antiquated|alt=Antiquated]]; belonging to the past.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fossillike]]

+ * [[fossiliferous]]

+ * [[fossilise]]

+ * [[fossilize]]

+ * [[macrofossil]]

+ * [[microfossil]]

+ * [[nanofossil]]

+ * [[subfossil]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fosse]]

+ * [[bed]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}