throw English · revision 2863

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000, Ælfric|origins=ine-pro *tere-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|throwen]], earlier thrauwen,^(Barnhart 1988) [[inh|ang|þrāwan|t=to twist, turn, writhe, curl]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[gem-pro|*þrēaną|alt=*threw-]],^(Etymonline) the source also of Old Saxon thrāian, Dutch draaien and Old High German drāen (German drehen) “to turn, twist”;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) it is not found in Scandinavian or Gothic.^(Etymonline) It is from [[ine-pro|*tere-|t=to rub, turn]],^(Etymonline) as are Latin terere “to rub” and Greek teírein “to wear out”,^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) and it is related to [[thread]].^(Cresswell 2021) The noun is from the verb.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To twist, turn: Old English þrāwan, about 1000, in Ælfric's Homilies.^(Barnhart 1988) “To hurl, cast” is from the early 13th century in Etymonline^(Etymonline) and probably before 1300, in ''Kyng Alisaunder'', in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was not the usual Old English word for throwing, which was weorpan, related to [[warp]].^(Etymonline) The change of sense may have come through whirling a missile before letting it go;^(Etymonline) the “twist” senses survived in dialect and in the technical twisting of raw silk.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) In wrestling, “to throw to the ground”, it is from about 1300, and of a horse unseating its rider from the 1530s.^(Etymonline) “To confuse, disconcert” is from 1844,^(Etymonline) and “to lose a contest on purpose” is American colloquial by 1868,^(Etymonline) probably short for ''throw away''.^(Cresswell 2021) ''Throw a party'' was American college slang by 1916, ''throw a switch'' is by 1930, and ''throw the book at'' from 1932.^(Etymonline) The noun is from the 1520s;^(Etymonline) ''a stone's throw'' as a rough distance is from the early 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – to twist, turn.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 13th century – to hurl.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1300 – to throw in wrestling.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 14th century – ''stone's throw''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1520s – noun, an act of throwing.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1530s – of a horse, to unseat.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1844 – to confuse.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1868 – to lose on purpose.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1916 – ''throw a party''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To send through the air with a movement of the hand or arm.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To put suddenly or with force: ''threw him into prison''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To make fall to the ground, as in [[wrestling]], or off a horse.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To [[confuse]] or disconcert.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To lose a game or contest on purpose.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To give a party; to have a fit of temper.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To shape pottery on a wheel.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An act of throwing.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # The distance something is thrown: ''a stone's throw''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A light blanket or cover for furniture.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[thrower]]

+ * [[downthrow]]

+ * [[misthrow]]

+ * [[throwster]]

+ * [[windthrow]]

+ * [[throw-in]]

+ * [[throw-weight]]

+ * [[free throw]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[thread]]

+ * [[throe]]

+ * [[warp]]

+ * [[turn]]

+ * [[trite]]

+ * [[attrition]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Other words spelled ''throw'' in the OED are an old noun meaning “a time, a while” (about 888) and an earlier form of ''throe''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}