envelope English · revision 15383

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1705}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɛnvə(ˌ)loʊp/, /ˈɑn-/; /ˈɛnvə(ˌ)ləʊp/, /ˈɒnvə(ˌ)ləʊp/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|enveloppe]], a back-formation from [[m|fr|envelopper|t=to envelop, wrap up]] (see [[envelop]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Old French [[m|fro|envoluper]], the en- meaning in and the rest of unknown origin.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The cover of a letter: 1705 in Barnhart and Etymonline, before 1714 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The New Oxford records an earlier sense, a wrapper, from the mid-16th century, in the form envolupe.^(NODE 1998)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A covering or wrapper in general is from 1715.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) In botany and physical science an enclosing layer is from 1830,^(OED 1989) in mathematics the curve touching a family of curves from 1871,^(OED 1989) the gas bag of a balloon or airship from 1901,^(OED 1989) and the glass container of a vacuum tube from 1932.^(OED 1989) In aeronautics the flight envelope is the range within which an aircraft can safely operate, hence ''to push the envelope'', to go to or beyond the limits of what is possible.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * mid-16th century – envolupe, a wrapper.^(NODE 1998)

+ * 1705 – the cover of a letter.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1715 – any covering.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1901 – a balloon's envelope.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A flat paper container with a sealable flap, for a [[letter]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Any covering or wrapper; an enclosing membrane or layer.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The gas bag of a [[balloon]] or [[airship]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The limits within which a system or aircraft can operate safely: ''push the envelope''.^(AHD)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[floral envelope]]

+ * [[nuclear envelope]]

+ * [[window envelope]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[envelop]]

+ * [[develop]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}