serious English · revision 2586

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1440 (Promptorium Parvulorum)|origins=la sērius}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈsɪə.ri.əs/, US /ˈsɪr.i.əs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|seryows]], [[bor|frm|sérieux|t=grave, earnest]] and directly [[bor|la-lat|sēriōsus]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from [[la|sērius|t=weighty, important, grave]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) used only of things in classical Latin.^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986) Latin ''sērius'' is probably related to Old English [[m|ang|swǣr|t=heavy, sad]], German [[m|de|schwer|t=heavy, difficult]] and Lithuanian [[m|lt|sverti|t=to weigh, lift]],^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966) from [[ine-pro|*swer-|alt=*sehro-|t=slow, heavy]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Earnest, solemn: 1440, ''seryows'', in the ''Promptorium Parvulorum'',^(Barnhart 1988) or about 1440 in the OED.^(OED 1989) Etymonline records an earlier sense, “arranged in sequence”, in the early 15th century; the Middle English Compendium explains that the Latin stems of ''series'' and ''sērius'' seem to have fallen together in Medieval Latin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Requiring earnest thought, important” is from 1531,^(OED 1989)^(HTOED) and “grave in demeanour” from 1613.^(OED 1989) “In earnest, not jesting” is from 1712^(Etymonline) or 1590.^(OED 1989) In the late 18th and early 19th centuries ''serious'' also meant “earnest about religion”, from 1796, and was cited as cant.^(OED 1989) Of music and drama, “dealing with grave matters”, it is by 1762.^(Etymonline) “Attended with danger, giving cause for alarm”, as in ''a serious illness'', is from 1800.^(Etymonline) ''Serious-minded'' is by 1653.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1440 – earnest, solemn.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1531 – important.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1613 – grave in demeanour.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1712 – not jesting.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1762 – of music and drama.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1796 – religious.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1800 – dangerous.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Grave in manner or quality; [[solemn]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Sincere, in earnest; not joking.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Requiring careful thought; important.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Causing concern; dangerous: ''a serious illness''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Deeply involved or interested: ''a serious musician''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[seriously]]

+ * [[seriousness]]

+ * [[nonserious]]

+ * [[overserious]]

+ * [[semiserious]]

+ * [[serious-minded]]

+ * [[superserious]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary compares ''serious'' with ''sober'', ''grave'', ''solemn'', ''earnest'', ''sedate'' and ''staid''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}