reality English · revision 2826

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1550|origins=la rēs}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /riˈæl.ə.ti/, US /riˈæl.ə.t̬i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|réalité]] and directly [[bor|la-med|realitas]] (accusative realitatem),^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) from [[la-lat|realis|t=real, actual; relating to things]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) the source of [[real]], from [[la|rēs|t=thing]], with the suffix [[-ity]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) The older English form in the sense “reality” was [[realty]], from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The quality of being real or having actual existence: 1550 in the OED and Merriam-Webster,^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) the 1540s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster also dates one sense to about 1513,^(MWU 2024) and the SOED puts the word in the late 15th century.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Real existence, what is real, the sum of all that is real” is from 1647,^(OED 1989) the 1640s in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) and a real thing or fact from 1646.^(OED 1989) ''In reality'', “in fact, actually”, is from 1679,^(OED 1989) and “the real state of something” from the 1680s.^(Etymonline) In the 17th and 18th centuries it also meant “sincerity”, sincere devotion or loyalty (1652).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Reality-based'' is from 1960, first in marriage counselling,^(Etymonline) and ''reality television'' from 1991.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1550 – the quality of being real.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1646 – a real thing or fact.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1647 – what is real, all real things.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1652 – sincerity.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1679 – ''in reality''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1960 – ''reality-based''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1991 – ''reality television''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The quality or state of being [[actual]] or true.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Something that actually exists or happens: ''the dream became a reality''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The totality of real things and [[event|alt=events]]; the world as it is, not as one might wish.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(philosophy)'' That which exists [[objective|alt=objectively]] and independently of the [[mind]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[antireality]]

+ * [[irreality]]

+ * [[nonreality]]

+ * [[unreality]]

+ * [[reality-based]]

+ * [[reality check]]

+ * [[reality principle]]

+ * [[reality testing]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[realia]]

+ * [[realism]]

+ * [[realize]]

+ * [[realization]]

+ * [[realty]]

+ * [[real]]

+ * [[rebus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}