standard English · revision 2618

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=borrowing|attested=1138 (Peterborough Chronicle)|origins=frk *standhard}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈstæn.dəd/, US /ˈstæn.dɚd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|standard]], [[bor|fro|estandart|t=military standard, banner; rallying place]] in a shortened form, also Anglo-French estandard,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) and in part from Medieval Latin standardum.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) According to Barnhart, Watkins and others, including Corominas and von Wartburg, it probably comes from [[frk|*standhard|t=stand fast, stand firm]], a compound of words related to [[stand]] and [[hard]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) because the pole bearing the flag was fixed upright in the ground or on a wagon.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The OED and others call this a folk etymology, and connect it with Old French estendre “to stretch out”, from Latin [[m|la|extendere]], the source of [[extend]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(Klein 1966)^(COED 2004) Some senses, such as “upright pole”, were influenced by ''stand''.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A flag or banner raised on a pole as an army's rallying point: 1138, in the ''Peterborough Chronicle'',^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) about the Battle of the Standard between the English and the Scots,^(Cresswell 2021) where the standard was apparently a ship's mast with flags, mounted on a wagon.^(Cresswell 2021) The OED's first quotation is from 1154.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle English ''standard'' was used of many upright things: a pole, a tall stump, a candlestick, a tower.^(Etymonline) A weight, measure or instrument for checking the accuracy of others is from the late 14th century; the OED calls the sense development “somewhat obscure”.^(Etymonline) The official weights and measures were set by royal ordinance and called the king's standard, so the royal flag may have come to stand for royal authority in such matters.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) A level of quality or achievement is from the 15th century.^(Hoad 1986) The adjective meant “stationary” in the early 15th century and “upright” in the 1530s,^(Etymonline) and “serving as a standard” is by the 1620s.^(Etymonline) ''Standard-bearer'', figuratively, is from the 1560s.^(Etymonline) ''Standard time'' is from 1870^(Etymonline) and ''standard-bred'' from 1878.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1138 – a battle standard.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – a measure for checking accuracy.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 15th century – adjective, stationary.^(Etymonline)

+ * 15th century – a level of quality.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1560s – a figurative standard-bearer.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1620s – adjective, serving as a standard.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1870 – ''standard time''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A level of quality or attainment: ''high standards''.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Something used as a measure or model for comparison.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A flag or banner, especially one used as an emblem or rallying point.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # An upright pole or support.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A song or piece of music often performed.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Serving as or conforming to a standard; normal or usual.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Widely accepted as correct or authoritative: ''standard English''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[standardly]]

+ * [[standardless]]

+ * [[prestandard]]

+ * [[standardbred]]

+ * [[standardise]]

+ * [[stanine]]

+ * [[superstandard]]

+ * [[unstandard]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stand]]

+ * [[hard]]

+ * [[extend]]

+ * [[standardize]]

+ * [[standard-bearer]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}