member English · revision 2551

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1297|origins=la membrum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈmem.bə/, US /ˈmem.bɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|membre]], [[bor|fro|membre|t=part, portion; limb; member]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from [[la|membrum|t=limb, member of the body, part]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) from earlier [[m|la|*mēmsrom]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) Etymonline traces it to [[ine-pro|*mems-ro-]], from [[m|ine-pro|*mems-|t=flesh, meat]],^(Etymonline) and Merriam-Webster gives its basic meaning as “flesh”.^(MWU 2024) Its relatives include Greek [[m|grc|μηρός|tr=mērós|t=thigh]], Sanskrit māṃsá-, “flesh”, and Gothic mimz, “flesh”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[membrane]] and [[dismember]].^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A part or organ of the body, especially a limb: 1297^(OED 1989) or probably 1280.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Especially “the sex organ” from about 1300, at first of women as well as men,^(Etymonline) after Latin ''membrum virile''.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) With reference to a metaphorical body, as in ''member of Christ'', it is from the 14th century,^(OED 1989) and Etymonline thinks the Christian sense reinforced the meaning “person belonging to a group”,^(Etymonline) recorded from about 1330^(OED 1989) or before 1338.^(Barnhart 1988) A constituent part of a complex structure is from about 1391,^(OED 1989) and a part of a sentence from the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986) One elected to a parliament is a ''member'' from the 15th century.^(Hoad 1986) In mathematics, an element of a set is a later sense.^(AHD) The colloquial verb ''member'', “remember”, is from the late 19th century.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1297 – a part of the body.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – the sex organ.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1330 – a person belonging to a group.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1391 – a constituent part.^(OED 1989)

+ * 15th century – a member of parliament.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 16th century – a part of a sentence.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1899 – verb, “remember”.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who belongs to a group or organization.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A distinct part of a whole, such as a clause of a sentence or an element of a [[set]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A part or organ of the body, especially a [[limb]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(euphemistic)'' The [[penis]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A structural part of a building or machine, such as a beam.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[memberless]]

+ * [[cardmember]]

+ * [[councilmember]]

+ * [[submember]]

+ * [[dismember]]

+ * [[membership]]

+ * [[charter member]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[membrane]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}