grand English · revision 2845

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1125–30|origins=la grandis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɡrænd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|graunt|t=large, big]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) [[bor|xno|graunt]], graund,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and directly [[bor|fro|grand]], grant “large, tall; grown-up; great, powerful”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|grandis|t=big, great; full, abundant; full-grown]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a word of unknown origin.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Merriam-Webster compares Greek brénthos “pride” and Old Church Slavonic grǫdĭ “breast”, with a basic meaning “swelling”.^(MWU 2024) In Vulgar Latin grandis replaced magnus and continued in the Romance languages,^(Etymonline) as Spanish grande, the source of [[grandee]].^(Cresswell 2021) The use of grand for relationships two generations apart, as in [[grandfather]], follows French grand-père and grand'mère.^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a surname or nickname, Grand, from 1125–30;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) the adjective “large, big” is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) before 1399 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988) In the sense “great, important” it is found from about 1350.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The connotations “noble, sublime, lofty” were already in Latin, and in English the word developed a special sense of “imposing”.^(Etymonline) One early use was as a title, ''the Grand'', translating French le Grand,^(NODE 1998)^(OED 1989) and ''grandmother'' is from before 1420 and ''grandfather'' from 1424.^(Barnhart 1988) The meaning “principal, chief”, especially in titles, is from the 1560s;^(Etymonline) “of very high or noble quality” is from 1712,^(Etymonline) and as a general term of admiration, “magnificent, splendid”, from 1816.^(Etymonline) ''Grand jury'' is from 1495,^(Barnhart 1988) ''grand piano'' from 1797,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and ''grandstand'' from 1834.^(Barnhart 1988) The noun, “a thousand dollars”, is American underworld slang from 1915^(Etymonline) or 1921.^(Barnhart 1988) In Scots and northern English dialects ''grand'' meant “fine, excellent”, and in Pembrokeshire “well in health”.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1125–30 – the surname Grand.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1420 – ''grandmother''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1424 – ''grandfather''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1495 – ''grand jury''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1560s – principal, chief.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1712 – of high quality.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1797 – ''grand piano''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1816 – splendid.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1915 – noun, a thousand dollars.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Large and impressive in size or extent; [[magnificent]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Rich and luxurious; splendid.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Dignified, noble or lofty in character.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Highest in rank; [[principal]]: ''a grand master''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(informal)'' Very good; excellent: ''a grand time''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Complete, total: ''the grand total''.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[grand piano]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(slang)'' A thousand dollars or pounds.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[grandly]]

+ * [[grandness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[aggrandize]]

+ * [[grand-]]

+ * [[grandam]]

+ * [[grandee]]

+ * [[grandeur]]

+ * [[grandiloquence]]

+ * [[grandiloquent]]

+ * [[grandiose]]

+ * [[grandfather]]

+ * [[grandmother]]

+ * [[grandstand]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Grand'' implies dignity, sweep and scale,^(AHD) while ''magnificent'' stresses splendour, ''majestic'' great dignity, ''imposing'' an impressive size or manner, and ''grandiose'' something affectedly grand.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}