central English · revision 2577

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1647 (Henry More)|origins=la centrum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsen.trəl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|central]] or directly [[bor|la|centrālis|t=pertaining to a centre]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[m|la|centrum|t=centre]],^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) the source of [[centre]].^(AHD 2000)^(Klein 1966) Barnhart and Etymonline note that an adverb centraly is recorded before 1425, which might imply an earlier use of the adjective.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Pertaining to or being a centre: 1647,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989) first used by the Cambridge Platonist Henry More.^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The slightly older word was ''centric'', from the 1580s.^(Etymonline) A city district in the heart of a town is ''central'' from 1675,^(OED 1989) and a controlling governing body from 1809.^(OED 1989) In politics, a party between the extremes is from 1860.^(OED 1989) The American colloquial noun ''central'', a telephone exchange, is from 1889, hence “Hello, Central?”.^(Etymonline) ''Central America'' is from 1826 and ''central processing unit'' from 1961.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1425 – adverb ''centraly''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1647 – adjective (Henry More).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1675 – of a city district.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1809 – of a governing body.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1826 – ''Central America''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1889 – noun, a telephone exchange.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1961 – ''central processing unit''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Situated at or near the [[centre]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Of basic importance; essential or principal.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Having dominant power; controlling all parts of a system.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Easily reached from various points.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(US, dated)'' A telephone exchange or its operator.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # An office that controls and coordinates related activities.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[centrally]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[center]]

+ * [[centre]]

+ * [[centric]]

+ * [[centralize]]

+ * [[eccentric]]

+ * [[concentrate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}