wrong English · revision 2310

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1067 (Old English wrange, a wrongful act)|origins=gem-pro *wrang-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /rɒŋ/, US /rɑːŋ/, /rɔːŋ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|wrong]] (also [[m|enm|wrang]]), late [[inh|ang|wrang]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|non|rangr|t=awry, unjust]], earlier [[m|non|*vrangr|t=crooked, wry]],^(Etymonline)^(COED 2004)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*wrang-]],^(Etymonline) which Watkins traces to [[ine-pro|*wer-|t=to turn, bend]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[wring]],^(COED 2004)^(SOED 2002)^(Klein 1966) and its relatives include [[da|vrang|t=crooked, wrong]] and [[nl|wrang|t=sour, bitter]], literally “twisting the mouth”.^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) So ''wrong'' is in origin the opposite of [[right]], which is related to [[la|rectus|t=straight]].^(Etymonline) Klein compares French [[m|fr|tort|t=wrong]] from Latin [[m|la|tortus|t=twisted]].^(Klein 1966)^(Chambers 2008) Barnhart notes that the adjective is hardly recorded in Old English, apart perhaps from a document of 944.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Twisted, crooked, wry, senses now obsolete: late Old English,^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) and in Middle English ''wrang'' probably before 1200, in the ''Ormulum''.^(Barnhart 1988) The noun, “a wrongful act”, is recorded in 1067.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The moral sense “not right, unjust, immoral” developed by about 1300,^(Etymonline) and Barnhart finds it before 1325 in the ''Cursor Mundi''.^(Barnhart 1988) The noun “an unjust action” is from about 1200.^(Etymonline) “Not in accord with the facts” is mid-14th century,^(Etymonline) and of people, “mistaken”, early 15th century.^(Etymonline) The adverb is from about 1200,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and the verb “to treat unjustly” from the early 14th century,^(Etymonline) first in Mannyng's ''Chronicle'' before 1338.^(Barnhart 1988) ''In the wrong'' dates from about 1400.^(Etymonline) The ''w'' was pronounced until the 17th century, and many words beginning with ''wr-'', such as ''wrist'', ''writhe'' and ''wreathe'', share the idea of twisting.^(Cresswell 2021) ''The wrong end of the stick'' (late 18th century) first meant “the worse side of a deal”.^(Cresswell 2021) ''Get up on the wrong side of the bed'' is recorded from 1801.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1067 – noun, a wrongful act.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1200 – ''wrang'', twisted (''Ormulum'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – adverb; noun, an injustice.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1300 – not right, immoral.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1338 – verb, to wrong (Mannyng).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-14th century – incorrect.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1400 – ''in the wrong''.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 15th century – of a person, mistaken.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1801 – ''the wrong side of the bed''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Not in accord with fact or truth; [[incorrect]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Contrary to conscience, morality or law; [[immoral]] or unjust.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Not the one wanted or intended: ''the wrong train''.^(AHD)

+ # Not suitable; [[improper]].^(AHD)

+ # Not working properly: ''something is wrong with the engine''.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Mistakenly; in a wrong way or direction.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An unjust or harmful act.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(law)'' A violation of another's legal rights; a [[tort]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # The state of being in error or at fault: ''in the wrong''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To treat unjustly or harmfully.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To discredit unjustly; to [[malign]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[wronger]]

+ * [[wrongly]]

+ * [[wrongness]]

+ * [[wrongdoer]]

+ * [[wrongdoing]]

+ * [[wrongheaded]]

+ * [[wrongful]]

+ * [[self-wrong]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[wring]]

+ * [[wrench]]

+ * [[wrinkle]]

+ * [[wrist]]

+ * [[writhe]]

+ * [[right]]

+ * [[tort]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate dialect word ''wrong'', from Old Norse ''rǫng'', meant a rib of a ship and later a crooked bough.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}