prestige English · revision 1312

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pɹɛsˈtiːʒ/, /pɹɛsˈtiːd͡ʒ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|prestige|t=illusion, deception]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|la|praestīgiae|t=conjuror's tricks]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) probably an alteration of ''*praestrīgiae'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) from ''praestringere'' “to bind, blindfold, dazzle”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''prae-'' “before” and ''stringere'' “to bind tight”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) It is related to [[prestigious]] and [[stringent]].^(Wiktionary)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An illusion, a conjuring trick or deception (1656).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense of a dazzling influence or glamour appeared about 1815, first used of Napoleon as a French word in English contexts.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) From this it came to mean a reputation for excellence or authority,^(Etymonline) and the old sense of a trick is obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Similarly, ''prestigious'' meant “deceitful” from 1546 and only took the sense of “having prestige” in 1913.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1546 – ''prestigious'', deceitful.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1656 – an illusion or trick.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1815 – dazzling influence, of Napoleon.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1913 – ''prestigious'', having prestige.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1934 – attributive, as ''prestige car''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The respect and admiration felt for someone or something because of success, rank or quality; standing or [[esteem]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(attributive)'' Having or conferring high status, as in ''a prestige brand''.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prestigeful]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prestigious]]

+ * [[prestidigitation]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House gives ''weight'' and ''importance'' as synonyms, and ''disrepute'' as an antonym.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}