prestigious English · revision 15432

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1534}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pɹɛˈstɪd͡ʒəs/, /pɹə-/ ''(UK)''; /pɹɛˈstiːd͡ʒəs/, /pɹɛˈstɪd͡ʒəs/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|praestīgiōsus|t=full of tricks, deceitful]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|la|praestīgiae|t=juggler's tricks]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) probably altered by dissimilation from [[m|la|praestrigiae]], from [[m|la|praestringō|t=to blindfold, dazzle]], from [[m|la|prae|t=before]] and [[m|la|stringō|t=to bind]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Practising illusion or legerdemain; deceptive: 1546 in the OED, the 1540s in Etymonline;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster dates it to 1534.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was derogatory until the 19th century, and the Century Dictionary (1895) marked it obsolete.^(Etymonline) The positive sense, having or conferring prestige, is from 1913, influenced by [[prestige]],^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(NODE 1998) a use the OED notes many preferred to avoid at first.^(OED 1989) The old sense of deceitful survives only rarely.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1534 – prestigious (Merriam-Webster).^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1546 – deceptive, juggling.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1895 – marked obsolete.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1913 – having prestige.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having high status or [[prestige]]; respected and admired.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(rare)'' Using deceit or illusion.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prestigiously]]

+ * [[prestigiousness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prestige]]

+ * [[prestidigitation]]

+ * [[strict]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}