capitalize English · revision 1765

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1764}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkæpətəˌlaɪz/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|capital|-ize]],^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)^(SOED 2002) the letter sense from ''capital'' “capital letter” and the financial senses from ''capital'' “wealth, funds”.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) Merriam-Webster Unabridged and Webster's Third instead treat it as a borrowing of [[fr|capitaliser]],^(MWU 2024)^(Webster's Third 1961) and the Shorter Oxford compares the French word.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To print or write in capital letters (1764).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word began in printing, and since the 1760s has meant writing or printing a letter as a capital, or beginning a word with one.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(HTOED) In the 19th century it took on the financial senses of ''capital'': to turn a periodic income into an equivalent lump sum and to work out its present value (1856),^(OED 1989) to convert into capital (1868),^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and, first in the United States, to supply a business with capital.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)^(HTOED) Also first in American use, it came to mean to turn something to one's advantage (1869),^(OED 1989)^(HTOED) now usually with ''on''.^(COED 2004)^(Chambers 2008) In accounting it later meant to treat an expense as a capital asset instead of a running cost.^(AHD)^(HTOED)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1764 – to print or write in capitals.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1856 – to convert an income into a capital sum.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1868 – to convert into capital.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1869 – to turn to account, originally in the US.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED)

+ * 1870 – to supply with capital (US).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1972 – to treat running costs as assets (Historical Thesaurus).^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To write or print a word or letter as a [[capital]], or in capitals.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024)^(COED 2004)

+ # To supply a business with capital or [[investment]] funds.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(LDOCE 2009)

+ # To convert assets or debt into capital or [[stock|alt=capital stock]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Black's Law 2004)

+ # To work out the present value of an income spread over time.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Black's Law 2004)

+ # To record an expense as a capital [[asset]] instead of a cost of the period.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Black's Law 2004)

+ # To take advantage of something; to [[profit]] by it (usually with ''on'').^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(COED 2004)^(Chambers 2008)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[capitalizable]]

+ * [[capitalizer]]

+ * [[decapitalize]]

+ * [[overcapitalize]]

+ * [[recapitalize]]

+ * [[undercapitalize]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[capitalization]]

+ * [[capital]]

+ * [[capitalism]]

+ * [[capitalist]]

+ * [[decapitate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}