economic English · revision 2585

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1592|origins=grc οἰκονομικός}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˌiː.kəˈnɒm.ɪk/, /ˌek.əˈnɒm.ɪk/, US /ˌiː.kəˈnɑː.mɪk/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|économique]] or directly [[bor|la|oeconomicus|t=of domestic economy; orderly]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(Klein 1966) from [[grc|οἰκονομικός|tr=oikonomikós|t=skilled in managing a household; frugal]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) also the title of Xenophon's treatise on household management,^(Etymonline) from [[m|grc|οἰκονομία|tr=oikonomía|t=household management]],^(Etymonline)^(COED 2004) the source of [[economy]], from [[m|grc|οἰκονόμος|tr=oikonómos|t=steward]].^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) Etymonline suggests it may partly be shortened from [[economical]].^(Etymonline) The SOED records an obsolete noun oeconomic, “household management”, from late Middle English.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Pertaining to the management of a household or private income: 1592,^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) or the 1590s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “frugal, thrifty” developed from the household meaning,^(Etymonline) but is now kept by ''economical''.^(Etymonline) Relating to national resources is from 1815,^(HTOED) and relating to the science of economics from 1835, now the main sense.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) “Maintained for profit” is from 1854, and “practical, utilitarian”, as in ''economic botany'', from 1861.^(OED 1989) ''Economic man'' and ''economic rent'' are from 1889.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1592 – relating to household finances.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1815 – relating to national resources.^(HTOED)

+ * 1835 – relating to economics.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1854 – run for profit.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1889 – ''economic man''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relating to the production, development and management of material wealth.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Relating to an [[economy]] or to the science of [[economics]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Relating to the practical necessities of life; [[material]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Financially worthwhile; profitable.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[agro-economic]]

+ * [[antieconomic]]

+ * [[economical]]

+ * [[economics]]

+ * [[noneconomic]]

+ * [[subeconomic]]

+ * [[uneconomic]]

+ * [[economic determinism]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[economize]]

+ * [[economise]]

+ * [[economy]]

+ * [[ecology]]

+ * [[ecumenical]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Economic'' now usually relates to the economy or economics, while ''economical'' keeps the older sense “thrifty”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}