atone English · revision 2148

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈtəʊn/ ''(UK)''; /əˈtoʊn/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It developed in English from the phrase ''at on'', ''at one'' “in agreement”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline) a contraction of [[at]] and [[one]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) It keeps the older pronunciation of ''one''.^(Etymonline) Random House treats it as a back-formation from [[atonement]].^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To be reconciled; to be in harmony (Middle English ''atonen'', probably about 1300).^(Barnhart 1995)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To atone was originally to bring or come together, to set parties at one.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Because reconciling an offended party usually needs some reparation, the meaning moved to making amends.^(Etymonline) The sense “make up for errors or deficiencies” is from the 1660s, and “make reparations” from the 1680s;^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary) the earlier sense of reconciliation is now obsolete.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c1300 – ''atonen'', to reconcile.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1555 – to compose differences, appease.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1593 – to bring contending persons into concord.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1660s – to make up for deficiencies.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1682 – to make reconcilement for an offender.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make amends or reparation, as for a wrong or sin.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To make up for errors or failings.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' To reconcile; to agree.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[atonable]]

+ * [[atoner]]

+ * [[atoningly]]

+ * [[unatoned]]

+ * [[unatoning]]

+ * [[atonement]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[one]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}