system English · revision 1826

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1619|origins=ine-pro *sta-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsɪs.təm/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|systēma|t=an arrangement, system]], a Late Latin word,^(Barnhart 1995)^(AHD)^(MWU 2024) [[der|grc|σύστημα|tr=sústēma|t=an organized whole, a whole made of parts]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) from the stem of [[m|grc|συνιστάναι|tr=sunistánai|t=to place together, combine]],^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|grc|σύν|tr=sún|t=together]] and [[m|grc|ἱστάναι|tr=histánai|t=to cause to stand]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) from [[ine-pro|*sta-|t=to stand]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) The Shorter Oxford, Collins and Hoad allow that it may have come through French [[m|fr|système]].^(SOED 2002)^(Collins 2023)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The whole of creation, the universe (1619, in the writings of John Selden).^(Barnhart 1988)^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The first sense, “the universe”, was obsolete by the early 19th century.^(HTOED) The sense “a set of connected principles, facts or ideas” is recorded before 1656 according to Barnhart, or by the 1630s according to Etymonline,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and a theory of astronomy such as the Copernican system from 1621.^(HTOED)^(Collins 2023) By the 1680s ''system'' was used of a group of heavenly bodies moving together, such as the sun and its planets, and of the animal body as an organized whole,^(Etymonline) hence ''get something out of one's system'' (by 1900).^(Etymonline) ''The system'', the prevailing social or political order, especially seen as oppressive, dates from 1806.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The computing sense, a group of related programs, is from 1963, and ''all systems go'' (1962) comes from the American space programme.^(Etymonline) Weekley compared its formation and senses with those of [[constitution]].^(Weekley 1921)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1619 – the universe (Selden).^(Barnhart 1988)^(HTOED)

+ * 1621 – a theory of astronomy.^(HTOED)

+ * before 1656 – a set of connected principles or ideas.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1680s – the body as an organized whole; a group of heavenly bodies.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1806 – ''the system'', the prevailing social order.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1900 – ''get it out of one's system''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1962 – ''all systems go''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1963 – a group of related computer programs.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A set of connected parts that work together as a whole.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A network, as of roads or pipes: ''the railway system''.^(COED 2004)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A set of organs with a common function: ''the digestive system''.^(AHD)^(NODE 1998)

+ # The body as a whole: ''alcohol in his system''.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # An organized scheme or method: ''a system of classification''.^(COED 2004)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Orderliness, method.^(COED 2004)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(the system)'' The prevailing political or social order, seen as oppressive.^(COED 2004)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A group of heavenly bodies moving under mutual attraction: ''the solar system''.^(Chambers 2008)

+ # ''(geology)'' The rocks formed during a geological period.^(COED 2004)^(Chambers 2008)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[systemize]]

+ * [[systematic]]

+ * [[systematise]]

+ * [[systematize]]

+ * [[systemic]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stand]]

+ * [[state]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}