case English · revision 1814

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1250 (Ancrene Riwle)|origins=ine-pro *kad-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /keɪs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ In the sense “instance, situation” it is [[inh|enm|cas]], [[bor|fro|cas|t=event, happening, situation]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) [[der|la|cāsus|t=a fall; chance, event]], from [[m|la|cās-]], the past-participle stem of [[m|la|cadere|t=to fall]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(MWU 2024) from [[ine-pro|*kad-|t=to fall]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) The idea is that what happens is what “falls” (compare [[befall]]).^(Etymonline) In grammar the Latin word translates Greek [[m|grc|πτῶσις|tr=ptôsis|t=a falling]].^(Klein 1966)^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986) The sense “box, container” belongs to a separate word, Middle English [[m|enm|casse]], from Old North French [[m|fro|casse]] (Old French [[m|fro|chasse]], modern French [[m|fr|châsse|t=reliquary]] and [[m|fr|caisse|t=chest]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(COED 2004)^(Etymonline) from Latin [[m|la|capsa|t=box, case for books]], from [[m|la|capere|t=to take, hold]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(COED 2004) from [[ine-pro|*kap-|t=to grasp]].^(Etymonline) Latin ''capsa'' is also behind [[capsule]] and [[cash]],^(Cresswell 2021) and English [[chase]] “frame” is a doublet of ''case''.^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Something that happens to someone; a state of affairs (before 1250, in the ''Ancrene Riwle'').^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Because a word for “what happens” could cover almost anything, ''case'' spread into many fields.^(Etymonline) It meant “an instance, an example” from about 1300, “the actual state of affairs” (''that is the case'') from about 1400,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) and in the late 14th century acquired its legal, medical and grammatical senses.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) ''In case'', “in the event”, dates from the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline) An incident under police investigation has been a ''case'' since 1838, and American slang used ''case'' for an odd or remarkable person from 1848.^(Etymonline) Weekley called it “a much overworked word”.^(Weekley 1921) The other ''case'', a container, is recorded before 1325 in the ''Cursor Mundi'';^(Barnhart 1988) it was used of an outer covering from the late 14th century and of a frame from the 1660s, as in ''staircase''.^(Etymonline) Printers kept capital letters in the upper of their two type cases, hence ''upper case'' and ''lower case'' (1862).^(Etymonline) The verb “to put in a case” is from 1575,^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) and the American criminal slang “to examine (a place) before robbing it” from 1915.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Hendrickson 2008)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1250 – a state of affairs (''Ancrene Riwle'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – an instance, an example.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * before 1325 – a box or container (''Cursor Mundi'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-14th century – ''in case''.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – a lawsuit; an instance of a disease; a grammatical case.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1400 – the actual state of affairs.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1575 – verb, to put in a case.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1660s – a frame, as in ''staircase''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1838 – a matter for police investigation.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1848 – (slang) an odd or remarkable person.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1862 – ''upper case'', ''lower case''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1915 – verb, to examine a place before robbing it.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An instance or example of something: ''a case of mistaken identity''.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # An occurrence of a disease or injury.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # A situation or set of circumstances: ''in that case''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The actual state of affairs: ''that is not the case''.^(AHD)

+ # A matter under investigation by the [[police]].^(COED 2004)^(Etymonline)

+ # A [[lawsuit]]; the facts and arguments offered for one side.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A set of arguments in support of something: ''the case for reform''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person treated by a doctor or social worker.^(Collins 2023)^(COED 2004)

+ # ''(grammar)'' A form of a noun, pronoun or adjective showing its relation to other words.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # A container or protective covering: ''a pencil case''.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # A box with its contents: ''a case of wine''.^(AHD)^(Chambers 2008)

+ # ''(printing)'' A tray with compartments for type.^(Chambers 2008)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To put in or cover with a case.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(slang)'' To inspect (a place) in preparation for a robbery.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[caseless]]

+ * [[best-case]]

+ * [[casebook]]

+ * [[caseload]]

+ * [[casework]]

+ * [[caseworker]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[encase]]

+ * [[casual]]

+ * [[accident]]

+ * [[capsule]]

+ * [[cash]]

+ * [[chase]]

+ * [[casement]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}