therapist English · revision 10725

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1880|origins=en therapy}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈθer.ə.pɪst/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[therapy]] and [[-ist]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who practises therapy in any sense: 1880 in Etymonline, 1886 in the OED and Merriam-Webster.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ An earlier word was ''therapeutist'' (1816).^(Etymonline) Since about the 1930s the word has been used especially of practitioners of psychotherapy.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1816 – therapeutist.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1880 – therapist.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1930s – a psychotherapist.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person trained in a particular kind of [[therapy]]: ''a speech therapist''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A psychotherapist.^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[electrotherapist]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[therapeutic]]

+ * [[therapy]]

+ * [[psychotherapist]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}