sour English · revision 15375

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000|origins=gem-pro *sūraz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|sour]], [[inh|ang|sūr|t=sharp, acid, fermented]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*sūraz]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) cognate with [[dum|suur]], [[goh|sūr]] (modern [[m|de|sauer]]) and [[non|súrr]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Outside Germanic it is related to [[lt|sūras|t=salty]] and [[cu|сыръ|tr=syrŭ|t=moist, raw]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*suHrós|t=sour, salty, bitter]].^(Etymonline) [[fr|sur|t=sour, tart]] is a Germanic loan.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Having a tart or acid taste: about 1000 in the OED and Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Bitter or extremely distasteful is from the 12th century,^(Hoad 1986) and harsh of temper, peevish, from the early 13th.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Fermented, made acid by fermentation, is also Old English,^(OED 1989) with ''to go sour'' figuratively from before 1340.^(OED 1989) Land that is cold and wet is called sour from 1532.^(OED 1989) The verb is from about 1300,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and the drink sense, as in ''whisky sour'', is American from 1862.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) ''Sour grapes'', disparaging what one cannot have, from Aesop's fable of the fox, is by 1836;^(Etymonline) sour cream is from 1855, sourball from 1900 and sourpuss from 1937.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – sūr, acid in taste.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 13th century – peevish.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1300 – to sour (verb).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1836 – sour grapes.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1862 – a sour (drink).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1937 – sourpuss.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having a sharp, acid taste like lemon juice or [[vinegar]]; [[tart]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Made acid or bad by [[fermentation]]: ''sour milk''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Bad-tempered, [[sullen]] or [[morose]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Unpleasant or disappointing: ''the deal went sour''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make or become sour.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To make or become unfriendly or disillusioned.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A mixed drink made with spirits, lemon or lime juice and sugar: ''a whisky sour''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sourish]]

+ * [[sourly]]

+ * [[sourness]]

+ * [[oversour]]

+ * [[sourball]]

+ * [[sourberry]]

+ * [[sourdough]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sorrel]]

+ * [[sauerkraut]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}