fight English · revision 2531

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 900 (Old English feohtan)|origins=gmw-pro *fehtan}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /faɪt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|fighten]], [[inh|ang|feohtan|t=to combat, contend with weapons, strive]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[gmw-pro|*fehtan]],^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) Proto-Germanic [[m|gem-pro|*fehtaną]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Its cognates include [[ofs|fiuchta]], [[goh|fehtan]], [[nl|vechten]] and [[de|fechten|t=to fence, fight]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) Etymonline, Klein and Hoad connect it with [[ine-pro|*pek-|t=to comb, pluck out wool or hair]], the root of Latin [[m|la|pectere|t=to comb]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(Hoad 1986) and Klein compares [[lt|pėšti|t=to pluck out]] and [[m|lt|susipėšti|t=to fight, scuffle]].^(Klein 1966) Barnhart instead compares Greek [[m|grc|πύκτης|tr=púktēs|t=boxer]], from [[m|ine-pro|*peuḱ-]].^(Barnhart 1988) The noun is from Old English [[m|ang|feoht]] and [[m|ang|gefeoht]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To contend in battle or single combat: Old English ''feohtan'', about 900.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) The noun, a hostile encounter between forces, is from about 893,^(OED 1989) and Barnhart cites Old English ''feoht'' about 725, in ''Beowulf''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The figurative sense “to strive, struggle” is from before 1000,^(OED 1989) as is the noun's sense “strife, struggle”.^(OED 1989) The verb is used with ''for'', “on behalf of”, from before 1300.^(OED 1989) The noun meant a combat between two persons or animals from about 1300,^(OED 1989) and later especially a boxing match.^(SOED 2002) ''Fight shy of'' and ''fight it out'' are later phrases.^(AHD) The sense “the will or power to fight”, as in ''full of fight'', is from 1812.^(Etymonline) ''Fight-back'', a rally or recovery, is from 1953.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''feoht'', a fight (''Beowulf'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 900 – verb, to fight in battle.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1000 – to strive, struggle.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1122 – Middle English ''fihten''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – a combat between persons.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1812 – the will to fight.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1953 – ''fight-back''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To try to harm or overpower an opponent with blows or weapons.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To box or [[wrestle]].^(AHD)

+ # To quarrel or argue.^(AHD)

+ # To strive hard; to struggle against or for something.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To wage a [[battle]] or [[war]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A confrontation in which each side tries to harm or overpower the other.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A quarrel or conflict.^(AHD)

+ # A [[boxing]] or wrestling match.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A struggle to achieve something.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # The will or ability to fight.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fightability]]

+ * [[fightable]]

+ * [[fightingly]]

+ * [[outfight]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fought]]

+ * [[fighter]]

+ * [[comb]]

+ * [[pectin]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}