unto English · revision 10708

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 1250|origins=en until|origins=en to}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈʌn.tuː/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from un-, up to, as far as, the first element of [[until]], which is of Scandinavian origin, and [[to]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024) with southern to replacing northern till.^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) Etymonline also allows a contraction of a native *und to.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To, as far as: about 1250 in Barnhart, the mid-13th century in Etymonline;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) before 1300 in the OED, of motion towards and reaching a place.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was used in all the senses of to except before an infinitive,^(Hoad 1986) and as until (archaic) from the 13th century.^(Hoad 1986) It survives today chiefly in poetic, biblical or archaic use (''do unto others'').^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1250 – unto.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1300 – motion towards a place.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # ''(archaic)'' [[to|alt=To]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' [[until|alt=Until]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[hereunto]]

+ * [[thereunto]]

+ * [[whereunto]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[until]]

+ * [[to]]

+ * [[into]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}