final English · revision 2514

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1338 (Mannyng)|origins=la fīnis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈfaɪ.nᵊl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|finalle]], [[bor|fro|final|t=final, last]] and directly [[bor|la-lat|fīnālis|t=of or pertaining to an end]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[m|la|fīnis|t=boundary, end]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) Merriam-Webster suggests that ''fīnis'' may be akin to [[m|la|fīgere|t=to fix, fasten]].^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[finish]], [[finis]] and [[finial]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Last, coming at the end: before 1338, in Mannyng's ''Chronicle of England''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Finally'' is from the 14th century.^(Hoad 1986) The noun, “that which comes last”, is from the late 14th century^(Etymonline) or 1609.^(MW Collegiate) A final letter, at the end of a word, is recorded from 1530.^(HTOED) ''Finality'' is found once in 1541 but became current only in the early 19th century.^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988) The final contest in a sport and the final examination of a course are both from 1880.^(Etymonline) A ''finalist'' was a believer in final causes in 1883, and a competitor in a final from 1898.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Finalize'' is Australian, from 1922.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1338 – last (Mannyng).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – noun.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1530 – a final letter.^(HTOED)

+ * 1880 – a sporting final; a final examination.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1898 – ''finalist'', a competitor.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1922 – ''finalize''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Coming at the end; last.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Being the end result; [[ultimate]].^(AHD)

+ # Not to be changed or reconsidered; [[conclusive]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The last of a series of contests, which decides the winner.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # The last examination of an academic course.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[finally]]

+ * [[cofinal]]

+ * [[finalise]]

+ * [[finalism]]

+ * [[finality]]

+ * [[pseudofinal]]

+ * [[finalist]]

+ * [[quarterfinal]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[finale]]

+ * [[fine]]

+ * [[finish]]

+ * [[finite]]

+ * [[finis]]

+ * [[finial]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}