side English · revision 1991

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 800|origins=gem-pro *sīdō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /saɪd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|side]], [[inh|ang|sīde|t=flank of a person; long part of a thing]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD) from [[gem-pro|*sīdō]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Its cognates are [[ofs|side]], [[osx|sīda]], [[nl|zijde]], [[goh|sīta]] (modern [[de|Seite]]) and [[non|síða|t=flank; side of meat; coast]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) It was probably formed from an adjective meaning “long, extending lengthways”, seen in [[m|ang|sīd|t=long, broad, spacious]] and [[m|non|síðr|t=long, hanging down]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(Barnhart 1988) Barnhart relates it further to [[cy|hyd|t=length]] and [[la|saeculum|t=age, century]],^(Barnhart 1988) and Etymonline to [[ine-pro|*sē-|t=long; late]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The flank of a person or animal, either part of the body to the left or right, and the long part or aspect of anything.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) Old English ''sīde'' is recorded before 800.^(Etymonline)^(COED 2004)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The old sense “long part of anything” survives in [[hillside]].^(Etymonline) From the 14th century ''side'' was a lateral half of a slaughtered animal, as in ''a side of bacon'',^(Etymonline) and by about 1400 a region or district, as in [[countryside]].^(Etymonline) The figurative sense “a position in relation to another person, a party in a dispute” (''choose sides'') is recorded about 1250,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) “one of the parties in a transaction” in the late 14th century, “an aspect” (''the bright side'') by the mid-15th century, and “a team in a game” from the 1690s.^(Etymonline) One face of a gramophone record is a ''side'' by 1936, and ''side'' is short for ''side dish'' by 1848.^(Etymonline) The verb meant “to cut (meat) into sides” in the 15th century,^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) and “to take the side of” from 1591;^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate) ''to take sides'' is from about 1700.^(Etymonline) The adjective “at or toward one side”, hence “subordinate”, is late 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Compounds include ''sidewalk'' (1739), ''sideshow'' (1855, in P. T. Barnum), ''side effect'' (1884) and ''sidekick'' (1903, in O. Henry).^(Barnhart 1988) The slang ''side'' “swagger, pretentiousness” (1878) comes from an obsolete ''side'' “proud, boastful”.^(MWU 2024)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 800 – Old English ''sīde''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1250 – a position or attitude in relation to others.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 14th century – a side of a slaughtered animal.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1375 – adjective, at or toward one side.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – one of the parties in a transaction.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1400 – a region or district.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1450 – verb, to carve into sides.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-15th century – an aspect of something.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1591 – verb, to take the side of.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1690s – a team in a game.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1700 – ''take sides''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1739 – ''sidewalk''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1848 – a side dish.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1855 – ''sideshow'' (American).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1878 – swagger, pretentiousness.^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1884 – ''side effect''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1903 – ''sidekick''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1936 – a side of a record.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A line or surface bounding a figure or object.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A surface of an object other than its top, bottom, front or back.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Either of the two surfaces of a flat object: ''both sides of the page''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The left or right part of the body, or of a thing or area.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # One of two opposing groups or positions in a contest or dispute: ''whose side are you on?''^(Etymonline)

+ # A sports [[team]].^(Etymonline)

+ # An [[aspect]]: ''the funny side''.^(Etymonline)

+ # A side of meat: ''a side of bacon''.^(Etymonline)

+ # A side dish.^(Etymonline)

+ # One face of a gramophone record.^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(slang)'' Swagger, pretentiousness.^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # At or on a side: ''a side door''.^(AHD)

+ # From or toward one side; oblique.^(AHD)

+ # Minor, incidental: ''a side issue''.^(AHD)

+ # In addition to the main part: ''a side order''.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''side with'': to take the part of (someone) in a dispute.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To provide with sides or siding.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sideless]]

+ * [[siding]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[beside]]

+ * [[aside]]

+ * [[sidle]]

+ * [[sideways]]

+ * [[since]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}