full English · revision 1824

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 899 (adverb), 917 (adjective)|origins=ine-pro *pelə-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /fʊl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|ful]], [[inh|ang|full]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995) from [[gem-pro|*fullaz]], earlier [[m|gem-pro|*fulnaz]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Hoad 1986) Its Germanic cognates are [[ofs|full]], [[osx|full]], [[nl|vol]], [[goh|fol]] (modern [[de|voll]]), [[non|fullr]] and [[got|𐍆𐌿𐌻𐌻𐍃|tr=fulls]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(SOED 2002) The Germanic -ll- continues an older -ln- (compare [[lt|pilnas]]),^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*pl̥nós|t=filled, full]],^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966) from the root [[m|ine-pro|*pelə-|t=to fill]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) Outside Germanic it is related to [[la|plēnus|t=full]], [[grc|πλήρης|tr=plḗrēs|t=full]], [[sga|lán|t=full]] and [[sa|पूर्ण|tr=pūrṇá|t=full]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024) The verb meaning “to thicken cloth” is a different word, from [[fro|fouler|t=to trample, press]], from Latin [[m|la|fullō|t=fuller]], of unknown origin.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As an adverb, “very, fully” (before 899, in King Alfred's translation of Boethius); as an adjective, “complete, full” (917, in the ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old English ''full'' already meant “containing all that can be held”, “having eaten or drunk enough” and “perfect, entire”.^(Etymonline) The adverb “very, entirely” was common in Middle English (''full well'', ''full many''),^(Etymonline)^(Weekley 1921) and Weekley thought it survived mainly through Gray's ''Elegy''.^(Weekley 1921) From the 1580s the adverb also meant “exactly, directly” (''full in the face'').^(Etymonline) ''Full moon'' is Old English,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and ''full of'' “abounding in” is also recorded before 1000.^(OED 1989) The slang sense “drunk” is recorded from the 16th century and later became mainly Australian.^(HTOED)^(GDoS) South African English used ''full of'' for “covered with” (''full of mud''), under the influence of Afrikaans ''vol''; this use was once also British.^(DSAE) Compounds include ''full-grown'' (1667, in Milton's ''Paradise Lost''), ''full dress'' (1761) and ''full blast'' (1839, American).^(Barnhart 1988) A ''full house'' was a full theatre from 1710 and a poker hand from 1887.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 899 – adverb ''full'', very, fully (Alfred).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 917 – adjective ''full'' (''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1000 – ''full moon''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – of the heart, overcharged with emotion.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1529 – of an account, detailed.^(HTOED)

+ * 1554 – drunk.^(HTOED)

+ * 1580s – adverb, exactly, directly.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1667 – ''full-grown'' (Milton).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1710 – ''full house'' in the theatre.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1761 – ''full dress''.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1794 – verb, of the moon, to become full.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1887 – ''full house'' in poker.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Holding as much as possible; having no empty space.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Having eaten as much as one can.^(COED 2004)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Complete, with nothing left out: ''a full account''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of the greatest degree: ''at full speed''.^(AHD)

+ # Having a great number or quantity: ''full of mistakes''.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # Having all rights or privileges: ''a full member''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Rounded, plump: ''a full face''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of clothes, made with a generous amount of fabric.^(AHD)

+ # ''(Australian slang)'' Drunk.^(GDoS)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Completely, entirely.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Exactly, directly: ''hit him full in the face''.^(AHD)^(MWU 2024)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Very: ''full well''.^(MWU 2024)^(Weekley 1921)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The greatest extent or degree: ''enjoy life to the full''.^(AHD)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(sewing)'' To gather or pleat (fabric).^(AHD)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Of the moon, to become full.^(AHD)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fullness]]

+ * [[full-grown]]

+ * [[fuller]]

+ * [[fuller's earth]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[-ful]]

+ * [[fill]]

+ * [[fulfil]]

+ * [[fulsome]]

+ * [[plenty]]

+ * [[plenary]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}