exorbitant English · revision 1402

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪɡˈzɔːbɪtənt/, /ɛɡˈzɔːbɪtənt/ ''(UK)''; /ɪɡˈzoɹbətənt/, /ɛɡˈzoɹbətənt/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English,^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|la-lat|exorbitāns|t=deviating]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) the present participle of ''exorbitāre'' “to go out of the track”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''ex-'' “out of” and ''orbita'' “wheel track, rut”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) It is related to [[orbit]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A legal term, deviating from rule or not coming within the scope of a law (mid-15th century).^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989) Barnhart dates it to 1437, in the sense “offensive”.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first meanings were of leaving a set track or rule: anomalous in law, eccentric in conduct, erring morally.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The general sense of excessive or immoderate is dated by Barnhart to 1440^(Barnhart 1995) and by Etymonline to the 1620s,^(Etymonline) and its use for prices and charges dates from the 1660s.^(Etymonline) This is now the only common sense.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1437 – offensive, per Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1460 – not within the intended scope of a law.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1534 – deviating from a rule or principle.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1620s – excessive, immoderate.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1646 – ''exorbitance'', excessiveness.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1660s – of prices and rates.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Going far beyond what is fair, reasonable or customary, especially in amount or price; [[excessive]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(law)'' Outside the scope of the law.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[exorbitantly]]

+ * [[exorbitance]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[orbit]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House gives ''inordinate'', ''outrageous'', ''extreme'', ''extravagant'', ''unreasonable'' and ''unconscionable'' as synonyms, and ''fair'' and ''reasonable'' as antonyms.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}