star English · revision 2549

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 830 (Old English steorra)|origins=ine-pro *ster-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /stɑː/, US /stɑːr/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|sterre]], [[inh|ang|steorra]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from [[gem-pro|*sternan-]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Its cognates include [[ofs|stēra]], [[osx|sterro]], [[nl|ster]], [[de|Stern]] and [[non|stjarna]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) and Gothic has stairnō.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966) The root is [[ine-pro|*ster-|t=star]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(Hoad 1986) the source also of [[la|stēlla]], Greek [[m|grc|ἀστήρ|tr=astḗr]] and [[m|grc|ἄστρον|tr=ástron]], and Sanskrit stṛbhis, “by the stars”.^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966) It is related to [[stellar]], [[constellation]], [[asterisk]], [[astral]] and [[astronomy]].^(Cresswell 2021)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A celestial body appearing as a point of light at night: Old English ''steorra'', before 830,^(Barnhart 1988) or about 825.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word was used originally of the apparently fixed celestial bodies, its restricted modern sense, but also of planets and comets, as in ''falling star'' and ''morning star''.^(Etymonline) The astrological sense, the influence of the planets on human affairs, is from the mid-13th century,^(Etymonline) hence a person's fate as shown in the stars about 1600.^(Etymonline) ''Star-crossed'', “ill-fated”, is from ''Romeo and Juliet'' (1592),^(Etymonline) and ''thank one's stars'' from the 1590s.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) An image or figure of a star is from the 14th century.^(Hoad 1986) The verb meant “to mark with a star” from the 1590s,^(Etymonline) “to adorn with stars” by 1718,^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) and “to mark with an asterisk” by 1827.^(Etymonline) A leading actor or singer is a ''star'' from 1824,^(Etymonline) and the verb “to play the leading part” is from the same year.^(Etymonline) An outstanding sports player is a star by 1916,^(Etymonline) and stars as a ranking of quality for hotels are attested by 1886.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 830 – Old English ''steorra''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-13th century – the stars in astrology.^(Etymonline)

+ * 14th century – a star-shaped figure.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1590s – verb, to mark with a star, and ''thank one's stars''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1592 – ''star-crossed'' (Shakespeare).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1824 – a leading performer; verb, to play the lead.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1827 – verb, to mark with an asterisk.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1886 – stars as a quality rating.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1916 – a sports star.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A self-luminous [[celestial]] body of gas, such as the [[sun]], seen at night as a point of light.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A figure with five or more points, or something shaped like one; an [[asterisk]].^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986)

+ # A mark of quality in a rating.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A famous performer, or an outstanding person in a field.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(often stars)'' A planet or constellation thought to influence human fate.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or being an outstanding performer: ''the star player''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To adorn or mark with stars; to mark with an asterisk.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To feature or play in a leading role.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To perform outstandingly.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[starless]]

+ * [[starlike]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stella]]

+ * [[stellar]]

+ * [[starry]]

+ * [[constellation]]

+ * [[asterisk]]

+ * [[astral]]

+ * [[astronomy]]

+ * [[disaster]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate ''star'', from Old Norse ''stǫrr'', is any of various coarse seaside grasses and sedges, chiefly in Scotland and the north.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}