woo English · revision 15284

+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|attested=before 1050}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /wuː/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|wowen]], [[inh|ang|wōgian|t=to woo, court, marry]] (transitive [[m|ang|āwōgian]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) of uncertain or unknown origin with no known cognates.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) It may be related to [[m|ang|wōh|t=bent, inclined]], as if inclining another toward oneself,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and Merriam-Webster compares [[la|voveō|t=to vow]].^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To court a woman: before 1050 in the OED and Barnhart; wooer is found earlier, about 1000.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) Middle English wowen is probably from before 1200, in the ''Ancrene Riwle''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Used of animals from 1398,^(OED 1989) and figuratively from the early 13th century.^(OED 1989) To seek to gain something, to solicit or invite, is from 1615,^(OED 1989) as in ''to woo voters''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – wooer.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1050 – wōgian.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1225 – figurative use.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1615 – to solicit, invite.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To seek someone's love, especially with a view to marriage; to [[court]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To try to win the support of: ''woo voters''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To seek after something; to [[entreat]] or [[importune]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[wooer]]

+ * [[wooingly]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[court]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}