pedestrian English · revision 1948

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pəˈdɛstɹiən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[la|pedester|t=going on foot; plain, prosaic]] (stem ''pedestr-'')^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) and the suffix [[-ian]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) ''Pedester'' is from ''pedes'' “one who goes on foot”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from [[la|pes|t=foot]] (stem ''ped-'').^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of writing, prosaic, dull (1716).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Latin ''pedester'' was contrasted with ''equester'' “on horseback”, and could mean plain prose as opposed to verse.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) English took the figurative “prosaic” sense first, in 1716.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The literal sense “going on foot” followed in 1791,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and the noun, a walker, in 1793.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) In early use a pedestrian was often someone who walked or raced for a wager;^(Etymonline) in the 20th century it came to mean especially a person on foot as opposed to one in a vehicle.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1716 – prosaic, dull.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1791 – going on foot.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1793 – noun, a walker.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1822 – of a statue, showing a person on foot.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1935 – ''pedestrian crossing''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person travelling on foot; a walker.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Lacking imagination or distinction; ordinary and dull.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Going or done on foot.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # Of, relating to or designed for walkers.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pedestrianism]]

+ * [[pedestrianize]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pedal]]

+ * [[equestrian]]

+ * [[pedestal]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}