delegation English · revision 15063

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1611|origins=la lēgō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌdel.ɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|dēlēgātiō|t=assignment, delegation]], perhaps partly through [[fr|délégation]] or formed in English,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from the past participle stem of [[m|la|dēlēgō|t=to send as a representative]] (see [[delegate]]), from [[m|la|dē-|t=from, away]] and [[m|la|lēgō|t=to send with a commission]], perhaps related to [[m|la|lēx|t=contract, law]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A charge or commission given to a delegate: 1611; the act of delegating, 1612.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) An earlier word in this sense was delegacie, from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sending of someone on a commission is from 1641,^(OED 1989) and in civil law the assignment of a debtor by a creditor to another creditor from 1721.^(OED 1989) A body of people sent to represent others is from 1818,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and in the United States the representatives of a state, taken together, from 1828.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Bankers used delegation for a kind of non-negotiable instrument from 1882.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1611 – a commission.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1612 – the act of delegating.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1721 – delegation (civil law).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1818 – a body of delegates.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1828 – a state's delegation (US).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A group of people chosen to represent others; a [[deputation]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The act of delegating, or the state of being delegated.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(US politics)'' All the members of Congress from one state.^(Collins 2023)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nondelegation]]

+ * [[predelegation]]

+ * [[redelegation]]

+ * [[subdelegation]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[delegate]]

+ * [[legate]]

+ * [[legation]]

+ * [[relegate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}