since English · revision 1848

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=before 1425 (Piers Plowman)|origins=ang siþþan}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /sɪn(t)s/^(Roach et al. 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|synnes]], [[m|enm|syns]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) a contraction of [[m|enm|sithenes]], formed from [[m|enm|sithen|t=after that, since]] with the adverbial genitive ending [[m|enm|-es]];^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(Klein 1966) ''sithen'' is in turn [[inh|ang|siþþan|t=afterward, later; as soon as]], from the phrase [[m|ang|sīþ þan|t=after that]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) made up of [[m|ang|sīþ|t=after]] (see [[sith]]) and [[m|ang|þan]], a weakened form of [[m|ang|þām]], the dative of [[m|ang|þæt|t=that]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) ''Sīþ'' is related to [[de|seit|t=since]] and [[got|𐍃𐌴𐌹𐌸𐌿𐍃|tr=seiþus|t=late]], and outside Germanic to [[la|sērus|t=late]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)^(Collins 2023) The Oxford dictionaries also allow derivation from the dialect form [[m|enm|sin]], a shortening of ''sithen''.^(COED 2004)^(NODE 1998)^(Hoad 1986) German [[m|de|seitdem]] is formed in the same way.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Skeat 1911)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Afterwards; from then until now (as an adverb, before 1425 in a version of ''Piers Plowman'', and Old English ''siþþan'' about 725, in ''Beowulf'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a conjunction, “from the time when”, ''since'' is recorded from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) and in the causal sense “because, inasmuch as” from about 1450, a development like that of [[fr|puisque]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Weekley 1921) The preposition dates from the early 16th century (1515 in Barnhart).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The sense “before now, ago”, with a word such as ''long'' (''long since''), is from the late 15th century.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In the 16th century the spelling ''since'' replaced ''syns'', ''synnes'' to show that the final sound is a voiceless ''s'', as ''ice'' replaced ''is'' and ''twice'' replaced ''twies''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Shakespeare could also use it to mean “when” (''thou rememb'rest since once I sat upon a promontory''), a sense now obsolete.^(MWU 2024) ''Since when?'', often expressing disbelief, is attested from 1907.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''siþþan'', in ''Beowulf''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – conjunction, from the time when.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * before 1425 – adverb ''synnes'', afterwards, since then.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1450 – because, inasmuch as.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * late 15th century – ago, ''long since''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1515 – preposition.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 16th century – the spelling ''since''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1907 – ''since when?''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # From then until now: ''has stayed there ever since''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # At some time between then and now; subsequently: ''has since married''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Before now; [[ago]]: ''long since forgotten''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Preposition===

+ # From a specified time in the past until now, continuously or intermittently: ''friends since childhood''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # During the period after the time when: ''since we last met''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Continuously from the time when.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Because; seeing that: ''since it was raining, she took an umbrella''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[long since]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sith]]

+ * [[sithence]]

+ * [[syne]]

+ * [[that]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}