daunt English · revision 2062

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɔːnt/ ''(UK)''; /dɔnt/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''daunten'',^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[bor|fro|danter]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) a variant of ''donter'',^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) [[der|la|domitare|t=to tame]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) a frequentative of [[la|domare|t=to tame]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) It is related to [[tame]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To overcome, subdue or vanquish a foe (about 1300).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle English the verb could also mean to tame an animal, to soothe a child, or to quell one's temper,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and even to fondle or caress.^(OED 1989) The sense of discouraging or frightening someone appears early in the 14th century (before 1325 in Barnhart; about 1475 in the OED)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) and is the only one that survives.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) ''Dauntless'' dates from 1593.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c1300 – to overcome, subdue.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1303 – to fondle, caress (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1325 – to frighten or discourage.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1377 – to tame an animal (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1593 – ''dauntless''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To lessen the courage of; to dishearten or discourage.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To overcome with fear; to intimidate.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[daunter]]

+ * [[dauntingly]]

+ * [[dauntingness]]

+ * [[daunting]]

+ * [[dauntless]]

+ * [[undaunted]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tame]]

+ * [[domesticate]]

+ * [[indomitable]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}