senior English · revision 2852

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1287–88|origins=la senex}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈsiː.ni.ə/, US /ˈsiː.njɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|senior|t=older, elder]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the comparative of [[m|la|senex|t=old]] (genitive senis),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[ine-pro|*sénos|t=old]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) the source also of Old Irish sen, Greek hénos, Lithuanian sẽnas, Armenian hin, Sanskrit sána- and Gothic sineigs “old”, sinista “eldest”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) The noun is from the adjective.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Latin senior also gave titles of respect in many languages: French sire, Spanish señor, Portuguese senhor and Italian signor.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “The elder”, added to a personal name to distinguish a father from a son of the same name: 1287–88,^(Barnhart 1988) the late 13th century, in the Leet rolls of the City of Norwich (“Walterus Baddyng, seniore”).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun, “a person of authority”, is from the mid-14th century (1363),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and “a person older than another” from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) “Higher in rank, longer in service”, as in ''a senior officer'', is first recorded in 1513.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) An advanced student is a senior from 1612,^(Barnhart 1988) and in American use a student in the fourth year from 1741.^(Barnhart 1988) In commerce the senior partner of a firm is from 1864.^(OED 1989) An elderly person is a ''senior'' by 1889,^(Etymonline) and ''senior citizen'', usually one past retirement age, is American from 1938.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) ''Seniority'' is from the 15th century, from Medieval Latin.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1287–88 – the elder, after a name.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1363 – noun, a person of authority.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – a person older than another.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1513 – higher in rank.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1612 – an advanced student.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1741 – a fourth-year student.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1889 – an elderly person.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1938 – ''senior citizen''.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Higher in rank or standing, or longer in service.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The elder of two people with the same name, as father and son: ''John Smith Senior''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # For or relating to elderly people.^(AHD)

+ # ''(US)'' Of the final year of a high school or [[college]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who is older than another: ''five years my senior''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An elderly person; a [[senior citizen]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A person of higher rank or standing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(US)'' A student in the final year of high school or college.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[seniority]]

+ * [[senior chief petty officer]]

+ * [[senior high school]]

+ * [[senior lecturer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[senile]]

+ * [[senate]]

+ * [[sir]]

+ * [[sire]]

+ * [[señor]]

+ * [[signor]]

+ * [[seignior]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Senior'' was also an obsolete spelling of [[seignior]].^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}