opener English · revision 15347

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Old English}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈəʊ.pən.ə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈoʊ.pən.ɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|ang|openere]], an agent noun from [[open]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who or that which opens: Old English openere in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) the OED's first quotation is from 1548.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A tool or machine for opening is from about 1600,^(Etymonline) and specifically a device for opening tins or bottles from 1906.^(OED 1989) An opening medicine, a laxative, is from 1610.^(OED 1989) In card games, the player who opens the betting is from 1880, and the cards on which a player may open from 1902.^(OED 1989) The first of a series of events or games is from 1941,^(OED 1989) and in cricket an opening batsman from 1950.^(OED 1989) ''For openers'', to begin with, is from 1967.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Old English – openere.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1600 – a tool for opening.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1906 – a tin opener.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1941 – the first of a series.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1967 – for openers.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A device for opening containers: ''a bottle opener''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The first event, act or game in a series or show.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person who opens, especially the player who makes the first bid; in [[cricket]], an opening [[batsman]].^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+ # For openers: to begin with.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[eye-opener]]

+ * [[door opener]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[open]]

+ * [[opening]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}