clarity English · revision 14985

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la clārus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈklær.ə.ti/, US /ˈkler.ə.t̬i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|clarte]], [[bor|fro|clarté|t=clarity, brightness]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) later reshaped as clarite, perhaps by a new borrowing of [[la|clāritās|t=brightness, splendour, clearness]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|la|clārus|t=clear]] (see [[clear]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Brightness, radiance, glory: probably about 1300 in Barnhart and Etymonline;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) divine glory about 1340 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The modern form clarite is from about 1425.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The original senses, brightness and splendour, are obsolete.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Clearness of colour, judgement or style is from the mid-15th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) and the current sense dates from the early 17th century (1616) in the OED and the NODE.^(OED 1989)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – clarte, brightness.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1340 – divine glory.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1425 – clarite.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1616 – clearness.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Clearness of thought or expression; [[lucidity]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Clearness of appearance, as of water.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[unclarity]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[clear]]

+ * [[clarify]]

+ * [[declare]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}