square English · revision 3031

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1250|origins=la quadra}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /skweə/, US /skwer/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun is [[inh|enm|squire]], square,^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) [[bor|fro|esquire|t=a square, squareness]], also esquarre,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la-vul|*exquadra]], a back-formation from [[m|la-vul|*exquadrāre|t=to square]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|ex-|t=out]] and [[m|la|quadrāre|t=to make square, set in order]],^(Etymonline) from [[m|la|quadrus|t=a square]],^(Etymonline) related to [[m|la|quattuor|t=four]],^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*kwetwer-|t=four]].^(Etymonline) The adjective is from Old French esquarré, past participle of esquarrer “to square”, and the verb from esquarrer.^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A tool for measuring or setting out right angles, a carpenter's square: about 1250 in Barnhart^(Barnhart 1988) and the mid-13th century in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) the OED's first example is from before 1300.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun came to mean a square shape or area by the late 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and the geometric figure and the number multiplied by itself from 1557.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) A body of troops in square formation is from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) An open space in a town is from 1687,^(Barnhart 1988) the 1680s in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) and in the US a block of buildings bounded by four streets by 1867.^(Etymonline) The tool gave the figurative sense of exactness and fairness: ''square'', “honest, fair”, is by the 1560s,^(Etymonline) and is behind ''fair and square'' (early 17th century) and ''square deal''.^(Cresswell 2021) ''Square meal'' is by 1868, originally American.^(Etymonline) The sense “old-fashioned, conventional” is from 1944, in American jazz slang, said to come from a conductor's hand movements in a regular four-beat rhythm.^(Etymonline) ''Back to square one'' is from 1960, probably from board games.^(Etymonline) The verb meant first to make square, of stone (late 14th century), then to regulate by a standard (1530s) and to balance accounts (1815).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1250 – a carpenter's square.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 14th century – adjective, with four equal sides.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – verb, to make square.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1557 – square number; square root.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1560s – honest, fair.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – a body of troops.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1687 – an open space in a town.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1868 – ''square meal''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1944 – old-fashioned, conventional.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1960 – ''square one''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A flat figure with four equal sides and four [[right angle|alt=right angles]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An open space in a town, often with buildings on all sides.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A T-shaped or L-shaped tool for drawing or checking right angles.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(mathematics)'' The [[product]] of a number multiplied by itself.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(slang)'' A person thought dull and conventional.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having four equal sides and four right angles.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of a unit of area: ''square metre''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Honest, fair: ''a square deal''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # With nothing owed on either side; [[even]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(slang)'' Old-fashioned, [[conventional]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make square or rectangular.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To multiply a number by itself.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To bring into agreement; to settle or balance: ''square an account''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[squarely]]

+ * [[squareness]]

+ * [[squarer]]

+ * [[squarable]]

+ * [[squarelike]]

+ * [[squarehead]]

+ * [[square-shouldered]]

+ * [[square-toed]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[quadrant]]

+ * [[quarter]]

+ * [[squad]]

+ * [[squadron]]

+ * [[four]]

+ * [[cadre]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}