alibi English · revision 202
5 Oct 2026, 22:17 by bogdan “Add pronunciation, sense history, timeline, word family, related words; definitions under Modern meaning” current version
Changes in this edit
@@ -1,20 +1,33 @@
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: /ˈæl.ə.baɪ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)
+
==Etymology==
− First recorded in 1727 according to the OED^(OED 1989) and in 1743 according to Merriam-Webster.^(MW Collegiate) It is [[bor|la|alibī|t=elsewhere]], a locative form of [[la|alius|t=other]],^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) [[der|ine-pro|*al-|t=beyond]].^(Etymonline) Wiktionary suggests the use followed French ''alibi''.^(Wiktionary)
+ It is [[bor|la|alibī|t=elsewhere]], a locative form of [[la|alius|t=other]],^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) [[der|ine-pro|*al-|t=beyond]].^(Etymonline) Wiktionary suggests the use followed French ''alibi''.^(Wiktionary)
− The weakened sense “excuse” is attested from 1912;^(Etymonline) Etymonline notes that, strictly, a proof of innocence that does not involve being elsewhere is an excuse rather than an alibi.^(Etymonline)
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ As an adverb, “elsewhere” (1727),^(OED 1989) and as a noun, the plea of having been elsewhere when an alleged act took place (1743).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)
− ==Noun==
− '''alibi'''
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ The word's earliest English uses, in the 18th century, were legal.^(RHWU) The weakened sense “excuse” is attested from 1912, originally in the United States,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(RHWU) together with “a person used as one's excuse”;^(OED 1989)^(RHWU) Etymonline notes that, strictly, a proof of innocence that does not involve being elsewhere is an excuse rather than an alibi.^(Etymonline) The verb dates from 1909, also originally American.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 1727 – adverb, “elsewhere”.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1743 – noun, “the plea of having been elsewhere”.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)
+ * 1909 – verb, “to provide an alibi for”.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)
+ * 1912 – “an excuse”.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
# ''(law)'' A defence in which the accused claims to have been somewhere else when the offence was committed; also, the fact of having been elsewhere.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)
# An excuse, especially one meant to avoid blame.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)
# A person used as one's excuse.^(RHWU)
− ==Verb==
− '''alibi'''
−
+ ===Verb===
# To provide an alibi or excuse for someone.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
# To make an excuse for oneself.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)
+ ==Usage notes==
+ Almost half of the American Heritage Usage Panel accepted the non-legal sense “excuse” in writing, but a large majority rejected the intransitive verb, as in ''they never alibi''.^(AHD) Random House notes that the extended senses occur in all but the most formal writing,^(RHWU) while some argue they should be avoided because they are unrelated to the original meaning “elsewhere”.^(Wiktionary)
+
==References==
{{reflist}}