colossus English · revision 1508

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=borrowing|attested=1398}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kəˈlɒs.əs/ ''(UK)''; /kəˈlɑ.səs/, /kəˈlɒs.əs/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|colossus|t=a statue larger than life]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[grc|κολοσσός|tr=kolossós|t=gigantic statue]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) a word of unknown origin,^(Etymonline) probably borrowed from a pre-Greek Aegean or Mediterranean language.^(Klein 1966)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A statue of very large size, the most famous being the bronze statue of the sun god at the entrance of the harbour of Rhodes (1398 in the OED; before 1398 in Barnhart; late 14th century in Etymonline).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Herodotus used the Greek word of gigantic Egyptian statues,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Weekley 1921) and the Romans of the bronze Helios at Rhodes.^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) From 1606 ''colossus-wise'' meant astride, like the Rhodian Colossus.^(OED 1989) The figurative sense, anything vast or overawing in its greatness, is from 1794;^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) it is used of very powerful persons, nations and companies.^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024) The adjective [[colossal]] dates from 1712.^(Barnhart 1995) Weekley notes that the word was punningly applied to Cecil Rhodes.^(Weekley 1921)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1398 – a gigantic statue.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1606 – ''colossus-wise'', astride.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1712 – ''colossal''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1794 – anything vast or overpowering.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A huge [[statue]], especially the bronze statue of Helios at Rhodes, one of the [[Seven Wonders of the World]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person or thing of immense size, importance or power.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[colossal]]

+ * [[Colosseum]]

+ * [[coliseum]]

+ * [[giant]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}