convey English · revision 16155

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=a. 1375, William of Palerne|origins=la via}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kənˈveɪ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|conveien]], [[bor|xno|conveier]] (kept in Old Northern French, where Central French had [[m|fro|convoier]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) from Medieval or Vulgar Latin [[la-med|conviō|t=to escort, go together on the road]],^(AHD 2024)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Ayto 2005)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|la|com-|t=with]] and [[m|la|via|t=way, road]],^(AHD 2024)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 2026) from [[ine-pro|*weǵʰ-|t=to go, carry in a vehicle]].^(AHD 2024)^(Etymonline) It is a [[doublet]] of ''[[convoy]]''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To go along with someone, to accompany or escort: before 1325 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) before 1375 in the OED, in ''William of Palerne''.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Ayto explains it as going with something on its way.^(Ayto 2005) The escorting sense died out in the 18th century,^(Ayto 2005)^(OED 2026) surviving in ''convoy'',^(Ayto 2005) although Scots kept it.^(Wright 1898) To carry or transport is from 1393, in Gower,^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988) and of immaterial things, such as meaning or information, from 1640.^(OED 2026) From the 16th century it was also a euphemism for "to steal".^(OED 2026)^(Weekley 1921) In law, to transfer the title to property led to ''[[conveyance]]'' and ''[[conveyancing]]''.^(Weekley 1921)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1325 – to accompany.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1393 – to carry, transport.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1437 – ''conveyance''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1545 – to steal (euphemistic).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1640 – to communicate.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1647 – ''[[conveyor]]''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To carry or [[transport]] from one place to another.^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To communicate or make known an idea, feeling or impression.^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(law)'' To transfer the title to [[property]].^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[conveyable]]

+ * [[conveyance]]

+ * [[conveyer]]

+ * [[conveyor]]

+ * [[preconvey]]

+ * [[reconvey]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[convoy]]

+ * [[via]]

+ * [[voyage]]

+ * [[envoy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}