lethal English · revision 15294

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1583|origins=la lētum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈliː.θəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-lat|lēthālis]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) an alteration of [[la|lētālis|t=deadly]], from [[m|la|lētum|t=death]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) altered to lethum by association with [[grc|λήθη|tr=lḗthē|t=forgetfulness]], the river Lethe of the underworld.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021) The origin of the Latin word for death is uncertain: perhaps a noun from a verb meaning to let go,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) or of Etruscan connection.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Causing spiritual death, especially of sin: 1583 in Barnhart, the OED and Merriam-Webster.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of or relating to death is from 1607,^(OED 1989) and able to cause death, of weapons and poisons, from 1613.^(OED 1989) The lethal chamber, for putting animals to death, is from 1884,^(OED 1989) and in genetics a lethal gene from 1917.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) Extremely harmful or devastating is a modern informal use.^(AHD) Lethality is from 1656.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1583 – spiritually deadly.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1613 – deadly.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1656 – lethality.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1884 – lethal chamber.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1917 – a lethal gene.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Able to cause death; [[deadly]], [[fatal]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Relating to or suggesting death.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Extremely harmful or effective: ''a lethal combination''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lethality]]

+ * [[lethally]]

+ * [[hyperlethal]]

+ * [[unlethal]]

+ * [[nonlethal]]

+ * [[semilethal]]

+ * [[sublethal]]

+ * [[lethal chamber]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Lethe]]

+ * [[lethargy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}