garden English · revision 3010

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=late 13th century|origins=ine-pro *gher-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈɡɑː.dᵊn/, US /ˈɡɑːr.dᵊn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|gardin]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro-nor|gardin|t=kitchen garden, orchard]], a variant of Old French jardin,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la-vul|*hortus gardinus|t=enclosed garden]],^(Etymonline) from [[frk|*gardo|t=enclosure, garden]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[gem-pro|*gardan-]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*gher-|t=to grasp, enclose]].^(Etymonline) It is cognate with Old High German garto (German Garten), Old English geard and Gothic gards “enclosure”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and is related to [[yard]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An enclosed piece of ground for growing flowers, fruit or vegetables: the late 13th century in Etymonline and the 13th century in the OED,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) with surnames from the late 12th century (gardin, 1171–83).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A region of remarkable fertility is from 1596, as in ''the Garden of England'' for Kent.^(OED 1989) The adjective use, as in ''garden flowers'', is from about 1600,^(Etymonline) and the verb, “to lay out and work a garden”, from 1577.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) ''To cultivate one's garden'' follows Voltaire's ''Candide'' (1759).^(OED 1989) Public pleasure grounds, ''gardens'', are from 1838,^(OED 1989) and ''garden party'' is from 1843 in Etymonline and 1869 in Barnhart.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The music-hall catchphrase ''everything in the garden is lovely'' is from the late 19th century,^(Cresswell 2021) or 1909 in the OED.^(OED 1989) ''Lead someone up the garden path'' is attested by 1925,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) at first as ''lead up the garden'', perhaps of luring someone into a garden to flirt.^(Cresswell 2021) ''Garden-variety'', “ordinary”, is from 1928.^(Etymonline) ''Gardener'' is a surname from 1130.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1130 – the surname Gardener.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1171–83 – in a surname.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 13th century – an enclosed garden.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1577 – verb.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1596 – a fertile region.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1843 – ''garden party''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1925 – ''lead up the garden path''.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1928 – ''garden-variety''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A piece of land where flowers, vegetables, fruit or herbs are grown.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(often plural)'' Grounds laid out with plants and trees for public enjoyment; a [[park]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(British)'' The land next to a house, with a lawn and plants; a [[yard]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A fertile, well-cultivated region.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To work in a garden.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To lay out or cultivate as a garden.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Grown in a garden; also, ordinary: ''a garden-variety cold''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[gardenful]]

+ * [[gardener]]

+ * [[gardenable]]

+ * [[gardenless]]

+ * [[gardenlike]]

+ * [[gardening]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[yard]]

+ * [[orchard]]

+ * [[jardiniere]]

+ * [[kindergarten]]

+ * [[girdle]]

+ * [[court]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}