interstellar English · revision 1881

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1626}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌɪntəˈstelə(r)/ ''(UK)''; /ˌɪnt̬ɚˈstelɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|inter-|stellar]],^(MWU 2024)^(RHWU) or directly from [[m|en|inter-]] and [[la|stella|t=star]].^(Etymonline)^(Chambers 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Situated between the stars (1626).^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It first referred to the night sky between the stars,^(Etymonline) as in Bacon's line quoted by Johnson (1755), “The interstellar sky hath so much affinity with the star...”.^(Johnson 1755) The modern astronomical sense, of the space between the stars, dates from the 1670s according to Etymonline.^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster's definition ties it especially to the stars of the Milky Way.^(MW Collegiate) A word with the same meaning, ''intersiderial'', is recorded from the 1650s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1626 – first record.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1650s – ''intersiderial'' in the same sense.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1670s – the astronomical sense.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1755 – Johnson defines it as “intervening between the stars”.^(Johnson 1755)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Situated or occurring between or among the [[star]]s.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(COED 2004)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Travelling or passing from one star to another.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stellar]]

+ * [[star]]

+ * [[constellation]]

+ * [[interplanetary]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}