noisome English · revision 1379

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈnɔɪ.səm/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It was formed in Middle English from ''noie'' or ''noy'' “harm, annoyance”^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) and the suffix [[-some]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) ''Noie'' is a shortened form of ''anoi'' “annoyance”, from Old French ''anoier'' “to annoy”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) It is related to [[annoy]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Harmful, injurious, noxious (1382).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “harmful” is now largely obsolete.^(Etymonline) The sense “offensive to the smell” appeared in 1577,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and the word now usually means foul or disgusting.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1300 – ''noie'', harm.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1382 – harmful.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1440 – disagreeable, offensive.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1577 – ill-smelling.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Offensive to the senses, especially to the smell; [[foul]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Harmful or [[noxious]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Highly objectionable.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[noisomely]]

+ * [[noisomeness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[annoy]]

+ * [[noxious]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House gives ''fetid'', ''putrid'', ''rotten'', ''stinking'' and ''mephitic'' as synonyms.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}