doctor English · revision 2841

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1303, Mannyng|origins=la doceō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈdɒk.tə/, US /ˈdɑːk.tɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|doctour]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|doctour]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la-med|doctor|t=religious teacher, adviser, scholar]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) in classical Latin “teacher”, an agent noun from [[m|la|docēre|t=to show, teach]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) originally “to make appear right”, a causative of [[m|la|decēre|t=to be seemly, fitting]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the source of [[decent]].^(Barnhart 1988) The verb is from the noun.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A Doctor of the Church, an early teacher or father of the Christian Church: about 1303, in Mannyng's ''Handlyng Synne'',^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and about 1300 in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The holder of the highest university degree, one empowered to teach a subject, is from the late 14th century^(Etymonline) (1377 in the OED, probably before 1378 in ''Piers Plowman'' in Barnhart),^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) and so the word also meant a teacher or learned man.^(Etymonline) The sense of a medical practitioner grew gradually from this, from about 1400, replacing the native [[leech]], though it was not common until the late 16th century;^(Etymonline) Chaucer's ''Doctor of Phisik'' shows the transitional stage.^(Etymonline) As a title before a name it is from about 1450.^(OED 1989) The verb first meant “to confer the degree of doctor on” (1599),^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) then “to treat medically” (1712),^(Etymonline) “to patch up, repair” (1829),^(OED 1989) and “to alter so as to deceive, falsify” (1774).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In Scotland a doctor was also an assistant master in a school, from 1630.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1303 – Doctor of the Church.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1377 – holder of the highest university degree.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – a medical practitioner.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1450 – as a title.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1599 – verb, to confer a doctorate.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1676 – ''doctorate''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1712 – verb, to treat medically.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1774 – verb, to falsify.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1829 – verb, to patch up.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person trained and licensed to treat illness, such as a [[physician]], [[dentist]] or [[veterinarian]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A person who holds the highest [[academic]] degree of a university, such as a PhD.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(Christianity)'' A [[theologian]] recognized as an authoritative teacher: ''a Doctor of the Church''.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give medical treatment to.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To repair, especially in a makeshift way.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To [[falsify]] or alter so as to deceive: ''doctored accounts''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To add something to food or drink to change its taste or quality.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[doctoral]]

+ * [[doctorly]]

+ * [[doctorless]]

+ * [[doctorship]]

+ * [[doctorally]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[docent]]

+ * [[doctorate]]

+ * [[doctrine]]

+ * [[document]]

+ * [[docile]]

+ * [[decent]]

+ * [[physician]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}