portable English · revision 10746

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1400|origins=frm portable|origins=la-lat portabilis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈpɔː.tə.bəl/, US /ˈpɔːr.t̬ə.bəl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|portable]] and directly from Late Latin portābilis, that can be carried,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Latin portāre, to carry (see [[port]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) An earlier word in the same sense was portatif (late 14th century).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Able to be carried by hand or moved easily: about 1400 in the OED, probably before 1425 in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Bearable or endurable is an archaic sense.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) Figuratively, easy to carry in the memory, is from 1655.^(OED 1989) Of a building, not permanent, is from 1860.^(OED 1989) The noun, something portable, such as a typewriter or radio, is from 1883 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988) Of rights or information, transferable, is from 1965,^(OED 1989) and of software, able to run on different systems, is a computing use.^(Collins 2023) ''Portability'' is a derivative.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 14th century – portatif.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1400 – easily carried.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1655 – easy to remember.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1860 – of a building.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1883 – a portable (noun).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1965 – transferable.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Easy to carry or move.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of software, able to be used on different computer systems.^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Bearable.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something portable, such as a small [[television]] or [[radio]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[portability]]

+ * [[portably]]

+ * [[nonportable]]

+ * [[unportable]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[port]]

+ * [[porter]]

+ * [[transport]]

+ * [[import]]

+ * [[export]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}