construct English · revision 10671

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1663|origins=la constructus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: verb: /kənˈstrʌkt/; noun: UK /ˈkɒn.strʌkt/, US /ˈkɑːn.strʌkt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|cōnstrūctus]], past participle of cōnstruere, to pile together, build up,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from con-, together, and struere, to pile up, build (see [[structure]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) It may also be a back-formation from the earlier [[construction]] (before 1387).^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To make by fitting parts together: 1663;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) the past participle construct, constructed, is earlier, 1432–50 in the OED, probably before 1425 in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Constructing things of the mind, such as theories, is from 1755,^(OED 1989) and in grammar, to arrange words in a sentence, from 1871.^(OED 1989) The noun is from 1871 in linguistics, a group of words forming a phrase;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) 1890 in psychology, an object in the mind formed from sense impressions;^(Etymonline) and 1933 in the general sense, anything constructed.^(Etymonline) The Hebrew ''construct state'' is from 1737.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1387 – construction.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1663 – to construct.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1737 – construct state (grammar).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1755 – to construct ideas.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1871 – a construct (linguistics).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1890 – a mental construct.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To build or make something by putting parts together.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To form an argument, sentence or theory by arranging ideas.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(geometry)'' To draw a figure that meets given conditions.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[concept]] or model built up in the mind.^(AHD)

+ # Something built from parts.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[constructible]]

+ * [[constructor]]

+ * [[constructive]]

+ * [[preconstruct]]

+ * [[deconstruct]]

+ * [[overconstruct]]

+ * [[reconstruct]]

+ * [[construct state]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[construction]]

+ * [[structure]]

+ * [[destroy]]

+ * [[instruct]]

+ * [[construe]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}