lather English · revision 1155

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈlɑː.ðə/, /ˈlæð.ə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈlæð.ɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun goes back to Old English ''lēaþor'' “washing soda, soap, foam”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|gem-pro|*lauþrą]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) related to [[non|lauðr|t=foam, washing soap]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) Watkins traces it to a Proto-Indo-European root ''*leue-'' “to wash”, the source of [[la|lavo|t=to wash]].^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The verb comes from Old English ''lēþran'' “to cover with lather”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a verb, to cover with lather (about 950);^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) as a noun, a froth of soap and water (about 1000).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun seems to be missing in Middle English and was probably formed again from the verb in the 16th century (1583).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) From 1660 it meant the frothy sweat of a horse,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and from 1839 a state of agitation such as makes one sweat.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The verb, to produce a lather, is from 1608,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and to beat or thrash from 1797.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 950 – verb, to cover with lather.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * about 1000 – noun, washing soda; soapy froth.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1583 – the noun in modern English.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1608 – verb, to form a lather.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1660 – the frothy sweat of a horse.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1797 – verb, to beat.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1839 – a state of agitation.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A foam formed by [[soap]] or [[detergent]] stirred in water, as in washing or shaving.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Froth formed by heavy sweating, as on a horse.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A state of anxious agitation; a [[dither]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To spread with lather.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To produce lather; to foam.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(informal)'' To beat or [[flog]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[latherer]]

+ * [[lathery]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lave]]

+ * [[lavatory]]

+ * [[lye]]

+ * [[laundry]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}