role English · revision 2564

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1606|origins=la rotula}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|rôle|t=part played by a person]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) literally “roll”, the roll of paper on which an actor's part was written,^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(SOED 2002) from [[fro|rolle|t=roll of parchment]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) from [[la-lat|rotulus]] or Latin [[m|la|rotula]],^(Klein 1966)^(AHD 2000) a diminutive of [[m|la|rota|t=wheel]].^(AHD 2000)^(Klein 1966) It is the same word as [[roll]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A part or character one takes on: 1606, in the form ''rowle'',^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(AHD 2000) or 1605 in Merriam-Webster.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary notes that the word came from French already with the sense “a part one has to play”, so that it was not at first used in English of the stage directly but figuratively.^(AHD 2000)^(Etymonline) The French spelling ''rôle'' does not appear before 1790–91.^(Barnhart 1988) A characteristic function performed by someone or something is by 1875,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the social-psychology sense, the behaviour expected of a person in a position, from 1913.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Role model'' is by 1957.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1606 – ''rowle'', a part to play.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1790–91 – the spelling ''rôle''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1875 – a characteristic function.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1913 – in social psychology.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1957 – ''role model''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A character or part played by an [[actor]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # The expected social behaviour of a person in a given position.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A function or position: ''the role of the press''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[multirole]]

+ * [[role-play]]

+ * [[role-playing]]

+ * [[gender role]]

+ * [[role conflict]]

+ * [[role model]]

+ * [[role-playing game]]

+ * [[title role]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[roll]]

+ * [[rotate]]

+ * [[rota]]

+ * [[control]]

+ * [[rouleau]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}