course English · revision 2013

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1300 (Kyng Alisaunder)|origins=ine-pro *kers-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /kɔːs/, US /kɔːrs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|cours]], [[bor|fro|cours|t=course, run, flow of a river]] (also [[m|fro|cors]], [[m|fro|curs]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|cursus|t=a running, race; journey; course]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) from [[m|la|currere|t=to run]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*kers-|t=to run]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) It was reinforced by [[m|fro|course]], from the feminine past participle used as a noun,^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986) which Klein derives from [[it|corsa]].^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Onward movement, a running in a set direction or over a set distance, and the path of a race: probably before 1300, in ''Kyng Alisaunder''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Most of the extended senses developed in the 14th century from the ideas of “the line along which something moves” and “a stage something must pass through”.^(Etymonline) “Order, sequence” is from about 1300, “ordinary procedure” (''the course of nature'') and “way of life” from the early 14th century, and “a series in fixed order” from the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline) A course of a meal is late 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The flow of a stream is its ''course'' from the mid-14th century and its channel from the 1660s.^(Etymonline) A planned series of lessons is recorded in 1605,^(Barnhart 1988) although French had the sense in the 14th century,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and a ''course of treatment'' is from about 1600.^(Etymonline) ''Of course'' “naturally, as expected” appears in 1541–42, replacing earlier ''bi cours''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) A layer of bricks or stones is a ''course'' from 1421,^(HTOED) and a sail on a lower yard from 1466.^(HTOED)^(Hoad 1986) The verb meant “to pursue” in 1466,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) “to run over” in the 1530s,^(Etymonline) and also “to hunt with hounds”, hence ''coursing''.^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – onward movement (''Kyng Alisaunder'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – order, sequence.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 14th century – ordinary procedure; way of life.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-14th century – the flow of a stream.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – a course of a meal.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1421 – a layer of bricks.^(HTOED)

+ * 1466 – verb, to pursue.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1541 – ''of course''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1605 – a series of lessons.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1660s – a channel for water.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Onward movement; [[progress]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # The direction or route followed by something moving, such as a ship or river.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A ground or stretch of water on which a race or game takes place: ''a golf course''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A way of acting: ''the best course''.^(AHD)

+ # The natural or usual way things go: ''the course of events''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A series of lessons in a subject.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ # One part of a meal served at one time.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+ # A continuous layer of bricks or stones in a wall.^(HTOED)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To move swiftly; to flow.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To [[hunt]] game with [[hound|alt=hounds]].^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[courseware]]

+ * [[coursework]]

+ * [[forecourse]]

+ * [[midcourse]]

+ * [[minicourse]]

+ * [[multicourse]]

+ * [[telecourse]]

+ * [[racecourse]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[current]]

+ * [[cursor]]

+ * [[courier]]

+ * [[discourse]]

+ * [[recourse]]

+ * [[excursion]]

+ * [[occur]]

+ * [[corridor]]

+ * [[car]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}