stir English · revision 10714

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|ang|styrian|t=to move, agitate]] (about 725, in Beowulf),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|gem-pro|*sturjaną]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) cognate with Old Saxon farsturian, to overturn, Dutch storen and German stören, to disturb, and Old Norse styrr, disturbance.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) Barnhart finds no convincing cognates outside Germanic,^(Barnhart 1988) while Etymonline traces it to a root meaning to turn, whirl (see [[storm]]).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To move, be active, pass into motion, and to agitate a liquid: about 725.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To trouble or disquiet is from about 1160.^(Barnhart 1988) To be alive is from the late 12th century, and to affect emotionally from the early 14th.^(Etymonline) ''Stir up'' is from the mid-14th century literally, and to rouse to action from the 1540s.^(Etymonline) The noun, a commotion or tumult, is from 1375,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) probably from Old Norse styrr,^(Etymonline) and movement or bustle from the 16th century.^(OED 1989) ''Stir-fry'' is attested from 1956 in writing on Chinese cookery.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – styrian, to move.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1160 – to disquiet.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1375 – a commotion (noun).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1540s – stir up, rouse.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1956 – stir-fry.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To move a spoon or similar tool round in a liquid to mix it.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To move slightly, or begin to move, as after sleep.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To arouse feeling or interest: ''to stir the imagination''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To cause trouble, with ''up''.^(Collins 2023)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An act of stirring.^(AHD)

+ # A state of excitement or [[commotion]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[stirrer]]

+ * [[stirrable]]

+ * [[stirless]]

+ * [[stirlessly]]

+ * [[astir]]

+ * [[restir]]

+ * [[unstirred]]

+ * [[bestir]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[storm]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Stir, slang for prison (by 1835), is a separate word, probably from Romani sturiben, a prison.^(GDoS)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}