award English · revision 2855

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1386, Chaucer|origins=frk *wardōn}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /əˈwɔːd/, US /əˈwɔːrd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|awarden|t=to decide after careful consideration]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|xno|awarder]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) a variant of Old North French eswarder, Old French esguarder “to consider, decide, judge, ordain”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|fro|es-|t=out, thoroughly]], from Latin ex-,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) and warder, guarder “to watch, look after”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a word of Germanic origin,^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) the source of [[guard]] and akin to [[ward]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) Merriam-Webster's Collegiate instead takes the Anglo-French prefix a- from Latin ad-.^(MW Collegiate) The noun is Anglo-French award, from the verb.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The verb, to decide or determine after careful consideration: about 1386–90, in Chaucer's ''Canterbury Tales''.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) The noun, a decision after examination, especially a judicial one, is from before 1300 in the OED,^(OED 1989) and about 1390, also in Chaucer, in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word was first legal: a judicial decision, especially that of arbitrators.^(OED 1989)^(NODE 1998) The verb's sense “to grant or assign by judicial or deliberate decision” is from 1523,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) and “to sentence” to custody from 1548.^(OED 1989) The noun's sense “something awarded”, a payment or penalty fixed by a decision, is from 1596, in Spenser's ''Faerie Queene'',^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) the 1590s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) A prize or honour conferred for merit is from 1854,^(OED 1989) and this is now the usual sense of both noun and verb.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) In the 15th century an award could also be keeping or custody.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – noun, a judicial decision.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1386 – verb, to decide.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1523 – verb, to grant by a decision.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1596 – noun, something awarded.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1854 – noun, a prize for merit.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give as deserved or merited: ''awarded a medal''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To grant as legally due, as by a [[judge]] or [[arbitrator]]: ''awarded damages''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something given for [[merit]]; a [[prize]] or honour.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A sum of money granted, as a [[grant]] for study or damages in law.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A decision, as of a judge or arbitrators.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[awardable]]

+ * [[awarder]]

+ * [[awardee]]

+ * [[awardability]]

+ * [[unawarded]]

+ * [[misaward]]

+ * [[Academy Award]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[guard]]

+ * [[ward]]

+ * [[reward]]

+ * [[regard]]

+ * [[warden]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate verb ''award'', “to guard; to ward off blows”, from a- and [[ward]], was used from about 1534 to the mid-19th century.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}