oblate English · revision 1142

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɒbleɪt/ ''(UK)''; /ˈɑbleɪt/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective comes probably from [[la-new|oblatus]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) formed from Latin ''ob-'' “toward” and ''-lātus'', abstracted from its opposite ''prōlātus'' “lengthened”;^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) it is related to [[prolate]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) The noun is [[bor|la-med|oblatus|t=one offered up]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) the past participle of Latin ''offerre'' “to offer”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) and is related to [[offer]] and [[oblation]].^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As an adjective, flattened at the poles, of a spheroid (1705).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adjective has always been a term of geometry and astronomy, opposed to ''prolate''.^(OED 1989)^(RHWU) The noun, a person devoted to a monastery or to religious work, is recorded from 1756 in Etymonline and 1864 in Barnhart, Merriam-Webster and the OED;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989) it was used especially of a child given by its parents to monastic life.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary) It now also names lay members of certain Roman Catholic communities.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1705 – adjective, flattened at the poles.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1753 – ''oblateness''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1756 – noun, a person dedicated to religious life (Etymonline; 1864 in the OED).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Flattened at the [[pole|alt=poles]], having the shape of a [[spheroid]] made by rotating an [[ellipse]] about its shorter axis.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A layperson dedicated to religious life and living in a [[monastery]] without taking full vows.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A member of any of various Roman Catholic communities of men or women.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # A child given by its parents to the care of a religious order.^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[oblately]]

+ * [[oblateness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[oblation]]

+ * [[offer]]

+ * [[offering]]

+ * [[prolate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}