handle English · revision 2959

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 800|origins=ang hand}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun is [[inh|enm|handel]],^(MWU 2024) [[inh|ang|handle]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) formed from [[hand]] and the instrumental suffix -el, as in [[thimble]] from [[thumb]] and [[spindle]] from [[spin]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The verb is [[inh|ang|handlian|t=to touch or move with the hands]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) also formed from hand, perhaps with a frequentative suffix.^(Etymonline) It is cognate with Old Frisian handelia, Old High German hantalōn “to feel, touch, manage” (German handeln “to trade, act”) and Old Norse hǫndla “to seize”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The noun, the part of a thing made to be grasped: before 800.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The verb, to touch or feel with the hands: about 1000.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old English the verb already meant “to deal with, discuss”, and Middle English hondlen also meant “to fondle” and “to treat roughly”.^(Etymonline) To wield a tool or weapon is from about 1205,^(OED 1989) and to deal with a matter or course of action from 1523.^(OED 1989) The noun's figurative sense, a means of taking hold of something, is from before 1535.^(OED 1989) The slang sense “name, nickname” is from 1870, first American, from earlier talk of adding a handle (a title such as Mister or Sir) to one's name, recorded from 1833.^(Etymonline) ''Fly off the handle'', from an axe head flying off, is American from 1833 to 1844.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The total sum of money bet on an event is a modern sense.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 800 – noun, a handle.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1000 – verb, to touch with the hands.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1205 – to wield.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1523 – to deal with a matter.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1833 – a title added to a name.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1843–4 – ''fly off the handle''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1870 – a nickname.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The part of an object designed to be held in the hand.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A means of understanding or controlling: ''to get a handle on''.^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(informal)'' A name or [[nickname]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The total amount of money [[bet]] on an event.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To touch, hold or move with the hands.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To deal with or [[manage]]; to have responsibility for.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To cope with: ''she can handle pressure''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To trade in a commodity.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of a vehicle, to respond to control.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[handleless]]

+ * [[handled]]

+ * [[handleable]]

+ * [[handleability]]

+ * [[handlebar]]

+ * [[handling]]

+ * [[panhandle]]

+ * [[stickhandle]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[hand]]

+ * [[handsel]]

+ * [[manhandle]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}