lexicon English · revision 1505

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1580}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈlɛk.sɪ.kɑn/; /ˈlɛk.sɪ.kən/, /ˈlɛk.sɪ.kɒn/ ''(UK)''; /ˈlɛk.sɪ.kən/, /ˈlɛk.sɪ.kɒn/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-new|lexicon]], possibly through [[frm|lexicon]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023) from [[grc|λεξικόν|tr=lexikón|t=wordbook]], short for [[m|grc|λεξικὸν βιβλίον|tr=lexikòn biblíon|t=word book]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) the neuter of [[m|grc|λεξικός|tr=lexikós|t=of words]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[m|grc|λέξις|tr=léxis|t=word, phrase, speech]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[m|grc|λέγειν|tr=légein|t=to speak, say]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[ine-pro|*leg-|t=to collect, gather]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A wordbook or dictionary, chiefly of Greek, Hebrew, Syriac or Arabic (1580 in Merriam-Webster; 1603 in the OED and Barnhart; about 1600 in Etymonline).^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Weekley calls it a Renaissance word.^(Weekley 1921) It was used especially of dictionaries of Greek, Syriac, Hebrew or Arabic, because these were usually written in Latin, and in Latin ''lexicon'' was the usual word for them.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Figuratively it came to mean the vocabulary proper to a field, a group or a person,^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) and since 1647 a list of words or names.^(OED 1989) In linguistics it is the complete set of meaningful units or [[morpheme|alt=morphemes]] in a language (1933).^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1580 – first date in Merriam-Webster.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1603 – a dictionary.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1647 – a list of words or names.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1836 – ''lexical''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1933 – in linguistics.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[dictionary]], especially one of an ancient language such as Greek or Hebrew.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The [[vocabulary]] of a language, a person, a group or a subject.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(linguistics)'' The total stock of [[morpheme|alt=morphemes]] of a language.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An inventory or repertoire.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lexical]]

+ * [[lexicography]]

+ * [[lexicology]]

+ * [[lexis]]

+ * [[dictionary]]

+ * [[legend]]

+ * [[glossary]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}