succession English · revision 10741

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1325|origins=fro succession|origins=la successio}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /səkˈseʃ.ən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|successiō|t=a following after, a coming into another's place]], partly through Old French succession, inheritance,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from success-, past participle stem of succēdere, to come after (see [[succeed]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The act, right or process of succeeding to an office, property or rank: before 1325 in Barnhart, the early 14th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The NODE notes that it also meant successors or heirs.^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Following one another in time is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) about 1386 in the OED.^(OED 1989) A regular sequence, and ''in succession'', one after another, are from about 1449,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and a series of persons or things in order from 1579.^(Barnhart 1988) In ecology, succession is the gradual replacement of one community of plants by another.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) ''Successive'' is from before 1425.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1325 – succession to an office.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1386 – following in time.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1425 – successive.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1449 – in succession.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1579 – a series in order.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A number of people or things following one after another; a [[sequence]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The act or right of succeeding to an office, title or [[throne]], or the order in which this happens.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The act of following in order.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[successional]]

+ * [[successionally]]

+ * [[nonsuccession]]

+ * [[apostolic succession]]

+ * [[succession duty]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[successive]]

+ * [[succeed]]

+ * [[successor]]

+ * [[success]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}