configuration English · revision 10752

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1559|origins=la-lat configuratio}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /kənˌfɪɡ.əˈreɪ.ʃən/, US /kənˌfɪɡ.jəˈreɪ.ʃən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-lat|cōnfigūrātiō|t=comparison, shaping]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Latin cōnfigūrāre, to fashion after a pattern,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) from con-, together, and figūrāre, to shape (see [[figure]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In astronomy, the relative position of planets or other heavenly bodies: 1559.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Barnhart notes that the family of words existed earlier in configured (about 1384, in the Wycliffe Bible).^(Barnhart 1988) The general sense, arrangement of parts or the form resulting from it, is from 1646 in the OED, the 1550s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) In chemistry, the spatial arrangement of atoms in a molecule is from 1894.^(OED 1989) In computing, the way the parts of a system are chosen and connected is dated from 1962 in the Historical Thesaurus.^(HTOED)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1384 – configured.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1559 – relative position of planets.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1646 – arrangement of parts.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1894 – molecular configuration.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1962 – in computing.^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The arrangement of the parts of something, or the form it produces.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(computing)'' The way the parts of a computer system or program are set up.^(COED 2004)^(HTOED)

+ # ''(chemistry)'' The arrangement of atoms in a [[molecule]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[configurationally]]

+ * [[configurational]]

+ * [[configurative]]

+ * [[configurationism]]

+ * [[preconfiguration]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[configure]]

+ * [[figure]]

+ * [[figurative]]

+ * [[disfigure]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}