dastardly English · revision 2063

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdɑːstədli/, /ˈdæstədli/ ''(UK)''; /ˈdæstɚdli/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[dastard]] “a base coward” and the suffix [[-ly]].^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Merriam-Webster dates the adjective to 1542.^(MW Collegiate) In the OED the adverb “in a cowardly manner” is first recorded in 1552, and the adjective in 1567 with the sense “dull, stupid”.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The early sense of mental dullness is now obsolete.^(OED 1989) From 1576 the adjective meant showing mean or despicable cowardice,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and it came to describe underhand or treacherous acts as well,^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary) as in ''a dastardly attack''.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1542 – first recorded (Merriam-Webster).^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1550s – ''dastardliness''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1552 – adverb, in a cowardly way.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1567 – dull, stupid (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1576 – despicably cowardly.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Cowardly and malicious; meanly base.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Underhand or treacherous.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dastardliness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dastard]]

+ * [[coward]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}