ambitious English · revision 14905

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1382|origins=la ambiō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /æmˈbɪʃ.əs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|ambicious]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|la|ambitiōsus|t=eager for public office, eager to win favour]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) perhaps partly through [[fro|ambitieux]],^(NODE 1998) from [[m|la|ambitiō|t=a going around to canvass votes]] (see [[ambition]]), from [[m|la|ambiō|t=to go around]], from [[m|la|amb-|t=around]] and [[m|la|eō|t=to go]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Full of ambition, thirsting after honour or advancement: 1382 in the OED; in Etymonline the first sense, in the late 14th century, is craving or yearning.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Strongly desirous of something that brings credit is from 1513,^(OED 1989) and figuratively rising or towering from 1601.^(OED 1989) Of works of art, showing aspiration, it is from 1751.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Two senses are obsolete: an ambitious man (about 1430), and circuitous, a Latinism of 1656.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1382 – full of ambition.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1430 – an ambitious man (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1513 – eager for something.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1601 – towering (figurative).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1751 – of works of art.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having a strong desire for success, power or wealth.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Greatly desirous; eager, often with ''of'' or ''to''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Needing great effort or ability; [[challenging]]: ''an ambitious project''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ambitiously]]

+ * [[ambitiousness]]

+ * [[superambitious]]

+ * [[overambitious]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ambition]]

+ * [[ambient]]

+ * [[ambit]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}