food English · revision 2307

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000 (Ælfric)|origins=ine-pro *pā-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /fuːd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|fode]], [[inh|ang|fōda|t=food, nourishment]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[gem-pro|*fōdōn]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) a formation found only in English;^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) the other Germanic languages have words formed on the verb behind [[feed]].^(Hoad 1986) Etymonline traces it to [[ine-pro|*pat-]], an extension of [[m|ine-pro|*pā-|t=to feed]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) the root of [[la|pābulum|t=food, fodder]], [[m|la|pānis|t=bread]] and [[m|la|pāscere|t=to feed, graze]].^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[fodder]] and [[foster]].^(Cresswell 2021)^(COED 2004)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Food, nourishment, and also fuel: Old English ''fōda'', about 1000, in Ælfric's works.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old English ''fōda'' could also be used figuratively^(Etymonline) and for a person's livelihood, a sense now obsolete.^(OED 1989) The Middle English ''fode'' is probably from before 1200, in the ''Ancrene Riwle'';^(Barnhart 1988) ''foode'' appears before 1387 and ''food'' in 1420.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Food'' meant a particular kind of food from 1393,^(OED 1989) and solid food as opposed to drink from 1610.^(OED 1989) It was used of what plants take from soil and air from 1759.^(OED 1989) ''Food for thought'' dates from the early 19th century.^(Cresswell 2021) Modern compounds include ''food poisoning'' (1864), ''food chain'' (1915), ''food stamp'' (1962) and ''food processor'' (1973).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – Old English ''fōda'' (Ælfric).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1200 – Middle English ''fode''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1393 – a kind of food.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1420 – the spelling ''food''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1610 – solid food as opposed to drink.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1759 – nutrients of plants.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1864 – ''food poisoning''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1915 – ''food chain''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1973 – ''food processor''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Material, mostly of plant or animal origin, that a living thing takes in to get energy and to grow; [[nourishment]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A particular kind of nourishment: ''plant food''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Nourishment in solid form, as distinct from drink.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Something that feeds the mind: ''food for thought''.^(AHD)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[foodless]]

+ * [[foodlessness]]

+ * [[fast-food]]

+ * [[foodaholic]]

+ * [[foodie]]

+ * [[foodstuff]]

+ * [[frankenfood]]

+ * [[nonfood]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[feed]]

+ * [[fodder]]

+ * [[foster]]

+ * [[pasture]]

+ * [[pastor]]

+ * [[pabulum]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ RHWU calls ''food'' the general word, and compares ''fare'', the whole range of foods available, ''provisions'', a store of food laid in beforehand, and ''rations'', a fixed allowance.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}