part English · revision 1859

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1000|origins=ine-pro *perə-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pɑːt/ ''(UK)''; /pɑːrt/ ''(US)''^(Roach et al. 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun is [[inh|enm|part]], [[bor|fro|part|t=share, portion; side]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|pars|t=part, piece, share]] (accusative [[m|la|partem]]),^(Etymonline)^(AHD) from [[ine-pro|*perə-|t=to grant, allot]].^(AHD 2000)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[m|la|portiō|t=share]] (see [[portion]]).^(Etymonline)^(Skeat 1911) Late Old English had [[m|ang|part]] “part of speech”, taken directly from Latin;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(COED 2004) Etymonline and Barnhart treat it as a rare word that did not survive, while Merriam-Webster and the Shorter Oxford derive the Middle English word from both Old English and French.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(SOED 2002) The verb is [[inh|enm|parten]], [[bor|fro|partir|t=to divide, separate]], from [[la|partīre|t=to share, divide]], [[m|la|partīrī]], from ''pars''.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In Old English, a part of speech (in Ælfric's ''Grammar'', c. 1000);^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) in Middle English, a division or portion of a whole (about 1250).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Part'' has replaced the native ''[[deal]]'' in most of its senses.^(Etymonline)^(Weekley 1921) The meaning “allotted share” dates from about 1300, and that of a share in some activity, a role or duty, from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) The theatrical sense (late 15th century) comes from an actor's share in a performance, as Latin ''partes'' was also used.^(Etymonline)^(Weekley 1921) In music a part is one of the voices or instruments in a piece (1520s).^(Etymonline) From 1561 ''parts'' meant a person's abilities or talents, as in ''a man of parts''.^(HTOED)^(Weekley 1921) A part of a machine is recorded by 1813 in Etymonline, 1886 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The parting of the hair was called a ''part'' by 1890 in American English; the older word was ''parting'' (1690s).^(Etymonline) The verb meant “to depart, leave” about 1200 and “to cause to separate” in the late 13th century;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) to part the hair dates from the 1610s, and ''part with'', to give up, from the 1580s, having earlier meant “to share with”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – Old English ''part'', a part of speech.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – verb, to depart.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1250 – a division of a whole.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * late 13th century – verb, to divide or separate.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – a role or duty, ''take part'', ''for the most part''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1488 – a character in a play.^(HTOED)

+ * 1513 – as an adverb, partly.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1561 – ''parts'', talents.^(HTOED)

+ * 1597 – as an adjective, in Shakespeare's ''2 Henry IV''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1615 – to part the hair.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED)

+ * 1813 – a piece of a machine.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1890 – the parting of the hair (US).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A portion or division of a whole; a piece or [[segment]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023)

+ # One of several equal quantities making up a mixture: ''two parts flour to one part water''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A division of a book, play or serial.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # A [[component]] of a machine.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # An organ or member of the body; in the plural, the [[genitals]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A [[role]] in a play or film; one's share in an activity, or one's duty.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(music)'' The melody or line for one voice or instrument.^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(usually plural)'' A region or district: ''in these parts''.^(COED 2004)^(Chambers 2008)

+ # A side in a dispute: ''take someone's part''.^(AHD)^(Weekley 1921)

+ # ''(usually plural)'' A talent or ability.^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+ # ''(US)'' The line where the hair is parted.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To divide or separate into parts.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To go apart; to leave one another.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To comb the hair away from a dividing line.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To give up possession of (''part with'').^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024)

+ # ''(archaic)'' To die.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Partly; in part: ''part right''.^(AHD)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Partial; not complete: ''part payment''.^(AHD)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[underpart]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[apartment]]

+ * [[depart]]

+ * [[impart]]

+ * [[participate]]

+ * [[participation]]

+ * [[participant]]

+ * [[participle]]

+ * [[participial]]

+ * [[participialize]]

+ * [[partner]]

+ * [[party]]

+ * [[partisan]]

+ * [[partisanism]]

+ * [[partial]]

+ * [[partite]]

+ * [[partitive]]

+ * [[partition]]

+ * [[particle]]

+ * [[particular]]

+ * [[apart]]

+ * [[portion]]

+ * [[parcel]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Part'' is the general word for something less than the whole.^(RHWU) Random House distinguishes ''piece'' (a complete unit or irregular fragment), ''portion'' (a part allotted to someone) and ''segment'' (a part into which something divides naturally).^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}