same English · revision 1769

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200, Ormulum|origins=ine-pro *sem-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /seɪm/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|same]],^(AHD 2000)^(MW Collegiate) probably [[bor|non|samr|t=same]] (feminine and neuter [[m|non|sama]]),^(AHD 2000)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*samaz]],^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*samos|t=same]], a suffixed form of [[m|ine-pro|*sem-|t=one; as one, together]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) Barnhart thinks it was partly abstracted from the Old English adverbial phrase [[m|ang|swā same|t=likewise, the same as]], with Scandinavian influence.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Skeat 1911) It is cognate with [[got|𐍃𐌰𐌼𐌰|tr=sama]], [[goh|sama]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) [[grc|ὁμός|tr=homós|t=same]] and [[sa|सम|tr=samá|t=level, equal, same]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) and related to [[la|similis|t=like]] and [[m|la|simul|t=together]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Identical, equal; not different (probably about 1200, in the Ormulum; 13th century in Merriam-Webster).^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old English seems to have lost the adjective except in the phrase ''swā same'';^(Etymonline)^(Skeat 1911) the Middle English word, which the OED calls the ordinary term for identity, is considered mostly Norse.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) It replaced the native synonym ''[[ilk]]''.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) As a pronoun, “the person or thing just mentioned”, it is recorded from about 1300 (1303, in Mannyng's Handlyng Synne).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Middle English also used ''same'' as an adverb meaning “together”, as in ''comen same'', to gather.^(Etymonline) The adverb ''the same'', in the same way, dates from 1766.^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024) Later phrases include ''all the same'', nevertheless (1803), ''same here'' (1895) and ''same difference'' (1945).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1200 – identical (Ormulum).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1303 – as a pronoun.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1766 – as an adverb.^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1803 – ''all the same''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1895 – ''same here''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1945 – ''same difference''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Being the very one; [[identical]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Alike in kind, quality, amount or degree; [[similar]].^(AHD)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Conforming in every detail (with ''as'').^(AHD)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Being the one already mentioned; [[aforesaid]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Pronoun===

+ # The identical person or thing, or one like it.^(AHD)^(MWU 2024)

+ # ''(chiefly commercial or legal)'' The thing just mentioned; it.^(AHD)^(Black's Law 2004)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In the same way (usually with ''the'').^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[all the same]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[similar]]

+ * [[simple]]

+ * [[single]]

+ * [[some]]

+ * [[homo-]]

+ * [[ilk]]

+ * [[seem]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Using ''same'' or ''the same'' for ''it'' (“please remit same”) belongs mainly to commercial and legal writing; the American Heritage Dictionary notes that it often sounds stilted, though it occurs in informal phrases such as ''lack of same'' and in the wartime message “Sighted sub, sank same”.^(AHD)^(Black's Law 2004) Random House distinguishes ''same'', identical, from ''similar'', alike only in some respects.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}