finish English · revision 2847

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈfɪn.ɪʃ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|finisshen]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|feniss-]], finiss-, the lengthened stem of fenir “to stop, finish, come to an end; to die” (modern finir),^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|fīnīre|t=to limit, set bounds; to put an end to]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|fīnis|t=boundary, border; end]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the source of [[final]] and [[finite]].^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) Fīnis is of unknown origin, perhaps related to fīgere “to fix”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The French change from fenir to finir came under the influence of fin “end”.^(Barnhart 1988) The noun is from the verb.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “To bring to an end, come to the end of”: about 1350,^(OED 1989) before 1375 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) The intransitive sense, “to come to an end”, is from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “To bring to completion, make perfect” is from the first half of the 15th century,^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) and “to use up, consume the rest of” from 1526.^(OED 1989) Johnson (1755) gave first “to bring to the end purposed; to complete”.^(Johnson 1755) “To kill, put an end to” is from 1755.^(Etymonline) The noun, “that which finishes or completes”, is from 1779, in a letter of Josiah Wedgwood,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and “the end, the last stage” from 1790.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The last coat of paint or plaster is a finish from 1823,^(OED 1989) and the quality of being finished or perfected from about 1805.^(OED 1989) ''Finish line'' is attested from 1873^(Etymonline) or 1899.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1350 – to bring to an end.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-15th century – to come to an end.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1526 – to use up.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1583 – ''finished'', accomplished.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1755 – to kill.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1779 – noun, that which completes.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1790 – noun, the end.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1873 – ''finish line''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To bring to an end; to [[complete]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To come to an end; to stop.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To eat, drink or use the rest of.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To give a final surface or texture to, as by [[varnish|alt=varnishing]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To end a race or competition in a given position.^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To kill or destroy; to ruin: ''the scandal finished him''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The end or last stage, especially of a race.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # The surface or texture of something, such as wood or paint.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Something that completes; polish or refinement.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[finisher]]

+ * [[prefinish]]

+ * [[refinish]]

+ * [[nonfinishing]]

+ * [[finish line]]

+ * [[Garrison finish]]

+ * [[photo finish]]

+ * [[finishing school]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[final]]

+ * [[finite]]

+ * [[infinite]]

+ * [[fine]]

+ * [[finance]]

+ * [[define]]

+ * [[confine]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}