outrage English · revision 16136

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300, Havelok|origins=la ultrā}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈaʊt.ɹeɪd͡ʒ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|outrage]], [[bor|xno|utrage]] and Old French [[m|fro|outrage]] (earlier [[m|fro|oltrage]]),^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024) from [[m|fro|outre|t=beyond]] and [[m|fro|-age]],^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|ultrā|t=beyond]],^(Etymonline)^(OED 2026) or through a noun formed from it, [[la-vul|*ultrāticum|t=excess]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Ayto 2005)^(Klein 1966) Despite its look it has no connection with ''[[out]]'' or ''[[rage]]'',^(Ayto 2005)^(Weekley 1921) although English speakers have long reanalysed it that way.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Wild, passionate or disorderly behaviour, and an act of violence or gross wrong, both from about 1300;^(OED 2026) Barnhart's first sense is violent behaviour, excess or extravagance, probably before 1300 in ''Kyng Alisaunder''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Etymologically the word means going beyond reasonable bounds in any way,^(Etymonline) and its early senses included excess in food or drink (about 1325 to 1756) and presumption or rashness (1387 to 1715).^(OED 2026)^(MED) The folk link with ''rage'' pushed it toward violent excess,^(Etymonline)^(ODE 2010) and those senses died out while "act of violence" and "gross injury or affront" survived.^(OED 2026) Use of injuries to feelings or principles is from 1735 in the OED and 1769 in Etymonline,^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) and the feeling of fierce indignation, originally Scottish, from 1572.^(OED 2026) The verb, first "to go to excess", meant to do violence to someone from the 1580s,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) and SOED notes that one of its senses was influenced by the verb ''rage''.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – disorderly or violent behaviour; an act of violence.^(OED 2026)

+ * c. 1300 – the verb, to act immoderately.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1325 – excess, intemperance (obsolete by 1756).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1572 – fierce indignation.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1590 – the verb, to subject to violence or insult.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1735 – a gross wrong to feelings or principles.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An act of great [[violence]] or [[cruelty]].^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An act or situation that grossly offends against what is right or decent; an [[affront]].^(AHD 2024)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Intense anger or [[indignation]] at such an act.^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make someone extremely angry or shocked.^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To do violence to, or grossly violate.^(AHD 2024)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[outrageous]]

+ * [[outré]]

+ * [[ultra-]]

+ * [[ulterior]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}