decide English · revision 2955

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1380|origins=la caedō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|deciden]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|frm|decider]],^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) and directly [[der|la|dēcīdere|t=to determine; literally, to cut off]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|la|dē-|t=off]] and [[m|la|caedere|t=to cut]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) from [[ine-pro|*kae-id-|t=to strike]].^(Etymonline) Middle English also had decisen, from the Latin past participle dēcīsus, but deciden displaced it.^(Barnhart 1988) The idea is of resolving difficulties at a stroke.^(Etymonline) Latin caedere is also behind [[concise]], [[excise]], [[precise]], [[scissors]] and [[suicide]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To settle a dispute or question: about 1380 in the OED,^(OED 1989) the late 14th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) and before 1393 in Gower's ''Confessio Amantis'' in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word was at first used of determining questions, controversies and lawsuits.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) “To bring a person to a decision” is from 1710,^(OED 1989) and the intransitive “to pronounce a final judgement” from 1732.^(OED 1989) “To make up one's mind” is from 1830.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The literal Latin sense “to cut off” was tried in 1579 but did not last.^(OED 1989) ''Decided'' and ''decidedly'' are from 1790.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1380 – to settle a question.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1579 – to cut off (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1710 – to bring someone to a decision.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1732 – to give judgement.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1790 – ''decided'', ''decidedly''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1830 – to make up one's mind.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make up one's mind; to choose after thinking.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To settle a question or dispute conclusively.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To determine the outcome of: ''the goal decided the match''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To give a [[verdict]] or judgement.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[decidability]]

+ * [[decidable]]

+ * [[decider]]

+ * [[predecide]]

+ * [[redecide]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[decision]]

+ * [[decisive]]

+ * [[concise]]

+ * [[excise]]

+ * [[precise]]

+ * [[incision]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}