mental English · revision 3006

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1422|origins=ine-pro *men-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈmen.tᵊl/, US /ˈmen.t̬ᵊl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|mental]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[la-lat|mentālis|t=of the mind]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|mēns|t=mind]], genitive mentis,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*men-|t=to think]],^(Etymonline) the root of [[mind]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of or pertaining to the mind: about 1422 in Barnhart^(Barnhart 1988) and about 1425 in the OED.^(OED 1989) In Middle English it also meant “of the soul, spiritual”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Done or performed in the mind”, as in ''mental arithmetic'', is from 1526.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) ''Mental illness'' is recorded by 1819, ''mental patient'' 1859 and ''mental hospital'' 1891;^(Etymonline) the colloquial sense “mad, deranged”, by 1927, probably grew out of such phrases,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) as in ''go mental''.^(OED 1989) ''Mental age'' is from 1912.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Mentality'', “mental capacity”, is from 1691, and “outlook, mindset” from 1895.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1422 – of the mind.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1526 – done in the mind.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1691 – ''mentality''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1819 – ''mental illness''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1891 – ''mental hospital''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1912 – ''mental age''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1927 – crazy (colloquial).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or relating to the [[mind]]; [[intellectual]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Done or existing in the mind: ''mental arithmetic''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of or affected by a disorder of the mind; for its treatment.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(informal)'' Mad, crazy.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mentally]]

+ * [[mentality]]

+ * [[mentalist]]

+ * [[mentalism]]

+ * [[nonmental]]

+ * [[submental]]

+ * [[mental age]]

+ * [[mental hospital]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mind]]

+ * [[mention]]

+ * [[dementia]]

+ * [[comment]]

+ * [[mentor]]

+ * [[memento]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate adjective ''mental'', “of the chin”, from Latin mentum “chin”, is used in anatomy from 1727.^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}