partner English · revision 3026

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la partītiō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈpɑːt.nə/, US /ˈpɑːrt.nɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|partiner]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) an alteration, under the influence of [[part]], of earlier parcener,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|xno|parcener|t=partner, joint heir]],^(Cresswell 2021)^(NODE 1998) Old French parçonier,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|fro|parçon|t=portion, share]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|partītiō|t=a sharing, division]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|partīre|t=to part, divide]],^(Etymonline) from [[m|la|pars|t=part, share]].^(Etymonline) Etymonline notes that it may also represent Old French part tenour, “part holder”.^(Etymonline) The verb is from the noun.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A sharer, one who has a part with another: about 1300.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The OED's first example is from 1297.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ One who shares power or authority with another is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and the commercial sense, a member of a business firm, from 1523,^(OED 1989) the 1520s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) A companion in a dance is from 1613,^(OED 1989) and a player on the same side in a game from 1680.^(OED 1989) A spouse is a ''partner'' from 1749 in the OED^(OED 1989) and the early 17th century in Word Origins,^(Cresswell 2021) and towards the end of the 20th century the word came to be used commonly for either member of an unmarried couple.^(Cresswell 2021) ''Partner in crime'' is from the early 19th century.^(Cresswell 2021) ''Partnership'' is from 1576.^(Barnhart 1988) The verb, “to make a partner”, is from 1611,^(OED 1989) and “to join as partners” from 1961.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1297 – a sharer.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – a sharer of power.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1523 – a business partner.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1576 – ''partnership''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1611 – verb, to make a partner.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1613 – a dancing partner.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1680 – a partner in a game.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1749 – a spouse.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1961 – verb, to join as partners.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person associated with another in an activity or shared interest.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A member of a business [[partnership]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A [[spouse]], or a person one lives with in a sexual relationship.^(AHD)^(Cresswell 2021)

+ # Either of two people dancing together, or one of a pair or team in a game.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A country or organization working with another: ''trading partner''.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To be the partner of; to bring together as partners.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[partnerless]]

+ * [[copartner]]

+ * [[nonpartner]]

+ * [[partnership]]

+ * [[domestic partner]]

+ * [[life partner]]

+ * [[silent partner]]

+ * [[sleeping partner]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[part]]

+ * [[parcener]]

+ * [[partition]]

+ * [[particle]]

+ * [[party]]

+ * [[portion]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}