regiment English · revision 15103

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1390|origins=la regō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: noun /ˈredʒ.ɪ.mənt/; verb /ˈredʒ.ɪ.ment/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|regiment]], [[bor|fro|regiment|t=government, rule]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from [[la-lat|regimentum|t=rule, direction]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[la|regō|t=to rule, direct, keep straight]] (see [[right]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from [[ine-pro|*reg-|t=to move in a straight line]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Government, rule, control, a sense now obsolete: 1390 in the OED, before 1393 in Gower's Confessio Amantis in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A system of governing is from 1474, the period of a reign from 1566,^(OED 1989) and self-control from about 1412.^(OED 1989) The military sense, a unit of an army, is first recorded in 1579, from French use;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) it first referred to permanent organization and discipline, and the number of soldiers has varied widely.^(Etymonline) The verb, to form into a regiment, is from 1617,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) and to organize systematically from 1698.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Regimental is from 1702.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1390 – rule, government.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1474 – a system of governing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1579 – a military unit.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1617 – to regiment (verb).^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1698 – to organize systematically.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1702 – regimental.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A military unit of ground troops, of two or more [[battalion|alt=battalions]], usually commanded by a colonel.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A large number of people or things: ''regiments of beer bottles''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' Rule; government.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To force strict discipline or uniformity on, especially in a domineering way.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To organize systematically.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To form into a regiment or regiments.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[regimental]]

+ * [[regimentally]]

+ * [[regimentation]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[regimen]]

+ * [[regime]]

+ * [[regal]]

+ * [[rule]]

+ * [[right]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}