suburban English · revision 15023

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1620s|origins=la urbs}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /səˈbɜː.bən/, US /səˈbɝː.bən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[suburb]] and [[-an]],^(Etymonline) after [[la|suburbānus|t=near the city]], from [[m|la|sub-|t=under, near]] and [[m|la|urbs|t=city]].^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of or inhabiting the suburbs: the 1620s in Etymonline, before 1625 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Slightly earlier forms were suburbian, from French, and suburbial (about 1600).^(Etymonline) An obsolete noun, the suburbs, is from before 1340.^(OED 1989) Having the supposed characteristics of suburbs, narrow or unadventurous, is from 1817,^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023) and a suburban resident from 1841.^(OED 1989) ''Suburban sprawl'' is attested by 1939.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1340 – suburbans, the suburbs (noun).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1620s – suburban.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1817 – suburban in character.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1841 – a suburbanite.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1939 – suburban sprawl.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of, situated in or living in a [[suburb]] or the suburbs.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Typical of life in the suburbs.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Narrow or unadventurous in outlook.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[suburbanite]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[suburbanism]]

+ * [[semisuburban]]

+ * [[suburbanise]]

+ * [[suburbanite]]

+ * [[suburbanize]]

+ * [[unsuburban]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[suburb]]

+ * [[urban]]

+ * [[suburbia]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}