tax English · revision 2570

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la taxāre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /tæks/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is [[inh|enm|taxen]], [[bor|fro|taxer|t=to impose a tax]] and directly [[bor|la|taxāre|t=to evaluate, estimate, assess, handle; to censure]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) in Medieval Latin “to tax”,^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966) probably a frequentative of [[m|la|tangere|t=to touch]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) from [[ine-pro|*tag-|t=to touch, handle]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) The SOED and the COED suggest instead Greek [[m|grc|τάσσω|tr=tássō|t=to order, fix]].^(SOED 2002)^(COED 2004) The noun is [[bor|xno|tax]], Old French [[m|fro|taxe]] and [[m|la-med|taxa]].^(Etymonline) The same Latin verb gave [[task]].^(Cresswell 2021)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To assess, put a tax on: about 1300.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The noun, a compulsory contribution to the government, is from before 1327^(OED 1989) or the early 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To determine the amount of a fine or penalty is from the 13th century,^(Hoad 1986) and the legal sense of assessing costs survives.^(SOED 2002) The sense “to burden, put a strain on” is from the early 14th century, figuratively by the 1670s,^(Etymonline) and the noun, a burdensome demand, from before 1628.^(OED 1989) “To censure, take to task” is from the 1560s.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Tyndale used ''tax'' in Luke 2 for the Roman census.^(Etymonline) ''Tax-gatherer'' is from the 1550s, ''tax-dodger'' by 1876, ''tax shelter'' from 1961, ''tax break'' by 1968 and ''tax bracket'' by 1975.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – verb, to tax.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1327 – noun, a tax.^(OED 1989)

+ * early 14th century – verb, to burden.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1560s – verb, to censure.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1628 – noun, a burden.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1876 – ''tax-dodger''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1961 – ''tax shelter''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A compulsory contribution to support a government, levied on income, property, goods or transactions.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A fee levied on members of an organization.^(AHD)

+ # A burdensome demand; a strain.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To place a tax on; to require a tax from.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(law)'' To assess court costs.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To make heavy demands on; to strain.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To accuse or [[censure]]: ''taxed him with neglect''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[taxer]]

+ * [[taxable]]

+ * [[taxless]]

+ * [[antitax]]

+ * [[nontax]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[task]]

+ * [[taxation]]

+ * [[tangent]]

+ * [[tact]]

+ * [[taste]]

+ * [[tangible]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A rare ''tax'' for the yew tree, from Latin ''taxus'', is recorded from 1541.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}