kind English · revision 2029

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725 (Beowulf, adjective)|origins=ine-pro *genə-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kaɪnd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun is [[inh|enm|kinde]], [[inh|ang|gecynd|t=kind, nature, race]], also [[m|ang|cynd]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[gem-pro|*gakundiz]], formed from the collective prefix [[m|gem-pro|*ga-]], the base of [[kin]] and an abstract suffix.^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) Barnhart relates it to [[la|nātiō|t=tribe]], from [[ine-pro|*genə-|t=to give birth, beget]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000)^(Etymonline) Etymonline finds no exact cognates outside English, only the adjective endings Gothic -kunds and [[goh|-kund]],^(Etymonline) while RHWU compares [[non|kyndi]] and [[m|goh|kikunt]].^(RHWU) The adjective is [[m|enm|kinde]], from [[m|ang|gecynde|t=natural, native, innate]], formed from the noun.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) The Old English prefix [[m|ang|ge-]] was dropped between 1150 and 1250.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The adjective ''gecynde'' meant “natural, native, innate” about 725, in ''Beowulf'';^(Barnhart 1988) the noun ''gecynd'' meant “nature, the natural order, innate character”, and also “race”, before 899, in Alfred's Boethius.^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998)^(Cresswell 2021) Ælfric called the Book of Genesis ''gecyndboc''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From “nature, innate character” the noun came to mean a class of people or things that share a nature, and so “sort, variety”.^(NODE 1998)^(Cresswell 2021) ''A kind of'' “something like” is from the 1590s,^(Etymonline) and the adverbial ''kind of'' “somewhat” (''kind of stupid'') from 1804.^(Etymonline) ''All kinds'' goes back to Old English ''alles cynnes'', contracted in Middle English to ''alkins''.^(Etymonline) ''Kind'' named a literary genre from 1546^(HTOED) and each element of the Eucharist (''communion in both kinds'') from about 1531.^(HTOED) The adjective in Middle English meant “well-born, well-bred”, and as good breeding was linked with good manners it came to mean “well-disposed by nature, gentle” and then “benevolent”,^(NODE 1998)^(Cresswell 2021)^(Hoad 1986) by about 1300 according to Etymonline^(Etymonline) and about 1325, in ''Cursor Mundi'', according to Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Kindly'' goes back to Old English ''cyndelic'' (before 899),^(Barnhart 1988) and ''kind-hearted'' is from 1535.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – adjective ''gecynde'', natural (''Beowulf'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 899 – noun ''gecynd'', nature (Alfred).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – ''kinde'', nature, type, class (''Ormulum'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1250 – adjective ''kinde'', natural, native.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – well-disposed, compassionate.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1531 – each element of the Eucharist.^(HTOED)

+ * 1535 – ''kind-hearted''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1546 – a literary genre.^(HTOED)

+ * 1590s – ''a kind of''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1804 – ''kind of'', somewhat.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A group of individuals that share common traits; a [[class]].^(AHD)^(NODE 1998)

+ # A particular [[variety]]; a [[sort]].^(AHD)

+ # Basic nature or character.^(AHD)^(NODE 1998)

+ # ''(in kind)'' In goods rather than money; in the same way.^(AHD)

+ # ''(kind of, informal)'' Somewhat, rather.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Friendly, generous and [[warm-hearted]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Showing sympathy; [[considerate]] or [[humane]].^(AHD)

+ # [[tolerant|alt=Tolerant]] or forbearing.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[in-kind]]

+ * [[kinda]]

+ * [[kindhearted]]

+ * [[kindless]]

+ * [[kindly]]

+ * [[kindness]]

+ * [[overkind]]

+ * [[unkind]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[kin]]

+ * [[kindred]]

+ * [[kinship]]

+ * [[mankind]]

+ * [[king]]

+ * [[nation]]

+ * [[gender]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''These kind of'' with a plural noun is often condemned, but RHWU notes that ''kind'' was historically an unchanged plural like ''deer'' or ''sheep'', and the construction occurs in Shakespeare, Swift and Jane Austen;^(RHWU) the AHD adds that British grammarians have been more tolerant of it than American ones.^(AHD) In formal writing ''this kind of'' and ''these kinds of'' are more usual.^(RHWU) RHWU distinguishes ''kind'', a deep-seated trait shown in considerate behaviour, from ''gracious'', kindness from a superior, ''kindhearted'', an emotionally sympathetic nature, and ''kindly'', a mild word for disposition or manner.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}