come English · revision 1860

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 830 (Vespasian Psalter)|origins=ine-pro *gʷem-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kʌm/^(Roach et al. 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|comen]], earlier [[m|enm|cumen]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(MWU 2024) [[inh|ang|cuman|t=to come]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD) from [[gem-pro|*kwem-]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) from [[ine-pro|*gʷem-|t=to go, come]].^(AHD 2000)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) Its cognates include [[nl|komen]], [[de|kommen]], [[non|koma]] and [[got|𐌵𐌹𐌼𐌰𐌽|tr=qiman]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) and outside Germanic [[la|venīre|t=to come]], [[grc|βαίνειν|tr=baínein|t=to go]] and [[sa|गच्छति|tr=gácchati|t=goes]].^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966) The Middle English spelling with ''o'' for Old English ''u'' was a scribal habit before letters made of short strokes, to avoid misreading.^(Etymonline) The Middle English past tense [[m|enm|cam]], [[m|enm|came]], probably from [[m|non|kvam]], replaced Old English [[m|ang|cuōm]], [[m|ang|cōm]];^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) the old past participle ''comen'' lost its ''-n'' and became ''come''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To move so as to reach a place, to arrive; also to appear, to recover, to assemble (Old English, before 830, in the Vespasian Psalter).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Come'' is the basic verb of motion towards the speaker, or towards a point where the speaker places themselves, as opposed to ''go''.^(SOED 2002)^(Wiktionary) The sense “to happen, occur” dates from the early 12th century, and ''come to pass'' from the 1520s.^(Etymonline) As an invitation to act it is recorded from about 1300, and as an appeal (''come, come'', ''come now'') from the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline) Of butter, to form in the churn, it dates from 1577;^(HTOED) the subjunctive use before a date, as in ''come Wednesday'', “when Wednesday comes”, is recorded from 1417.^(HTOED)^(Johnson 1755) From the early 18th century it also meant to adopt an attitude or try a trick, as in ''don't come that game'',^(HTOED)^(GDoS) and ''come again?'', “what did you say?”, is attested by 1884.^(Etymonline) The verb is remarkably productive with prepositions and adverbs (''come to'', ''come over'', ''come off'').^(Etymonline) The sexual sense, to reach orgasm, is recorded from about 1600 in Shakespeare;^(GDoS)^(Dalzell 2013)^(HTOED) the noun meaning semen dates from 1923.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) In South African English ''to come right'', to turn out well, is a [[calque]] of Afrikaans [[m|af|regkom]].^(DSAE)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 830 – Old English ''cuman'', in the Vespasian Psalter.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 12th century – to happen, occur.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1300 – as an invitation to action.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1417 – before a time, “when … comes”.^(HTOED)

+ * 1520s – ''come to pass''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1577 – of butter, to form in churning.^(HTOED)

+ * c. 1600 – to reach orgasm.^(GDoS)^(Dalzell 2013)

+ * 1721 – to act like, play a trick.^(HTOED)

+ * 1884 – ''come again?''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1923 – as a noun, semen.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To move towards the speaker or a particular place; to [[approach]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To arrive, by movement or in the course of time: ''the time has come''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To appear or become [[perceptible]]; to occur to the mind.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To happen or take place; to result: ''no good will come of it''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To reach or extend to a point: ''the dress comes to her knees''.^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To have a particular place in an order: ''your turn comes next''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To reach a state or condition; to become: ''came to regard him as a friend'' or ''come undone''.^(MW Collegiate)^(COED 2004)

+ # To originate or be derived; to be available in a form: ''comes in three sizes''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(vulgar slang)'' To reach [[orgasm]].^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(vulgar slang)'' [[semen|alt=Semen]]; orgasm.^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Preposition===

+ # When a stated time arrives: ''come spring''.^(Wiktionary)^(HTOED)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # Used to urge, encourage or rebuke: ''come, come''.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cum]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[become]]

+ * [[welcome]]

+ * [[venue]]

+ * [[advent]]

+ * [[basis]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Come'' marks motion towards the point of view of the speaker or listener, ''go'' motion away from it or not involving it.^(Wiktionary)^(SOED 2002) For the sexual noun many style guides allow the spelling ''cum'', and some keep ''come'' for all formal use.^(Wiktionary) Merriam-Webster lists ''come'' and ''comed'' as substandard past forms, and British dialectal ''cam''.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}