division English · revision 2793

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1350|origins=la dīvidō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈvɪʒ.ən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|devisioun]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|division]], devisiun,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) and directly from [[la|dīvīsiō|t=a dividing, division]] (accusative dīvīsiōnem),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a noun of action from the past participle stem of [[m|la|dīvidere|t=to divide]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the source of [[divide]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The act of separating into parts: probably about 1350 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) about 1374 in the OED,^(OED 1989) the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) Etymonline also has “a part separated from the rest” and “disagreement” from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Distribution or sharing among a number is from about 1380,^(OED 1989) and the arithmetical operation, the inverse of multiplication, is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) The division sign (÷) is said to have been invented by the mathematician John Pell (1611–1685).^(Etymonline) The military sense, a portion of an army or fleet, is from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) In biology the splitting of a cell into two or more cells is from 1880,^(OED 1989) and in gardening the propagation of plants by splitting clumps from 1805.^(OED 1989) A vote in Parliament in which members separate into two lobbies is another sense,^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) as is a grouping of teams in a sports league.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) ''Divisible'' is from before 1425 and ''divisor'' from before 1500.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1350 – the act of dividing.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1380 – distribution, sharing.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – the arithmetical operation; disagreement.^(Etymonline)

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

+ * 1590s – a military division.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1805 – division of plants.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1880 – cell division.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of dividing or the state of being divided; separation into parts.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The arithmetical operation of finding how many times one number contains another, the inverse of [[multiplication]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Something that divides or separates, such as a [[partition]] or boundary.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A part or section, as of a business or organization; a military unit, usually commanded by a [[major general]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Disagreement or [[discord]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # In sports, a group of teams that compete with each other.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[divisional]]

+ * [[divisionally]]

+ * [[divisionism]]

+ * [[hyperdivision]]

+ * [[interdivision]]

+ * [[misdivision]]

+ * [[nondivision]]

+ * [[predivision]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[divide]]

+ * [[dividend]]

+ * [[divisive]]

+ * [[divisor]]

+ * [[divisible]]

+ * [[divisibility]]

+ * [[device]]

+ * [[devise]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}