approach English · revision 3042

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|approchen]], aprochen,^(MWU 2024) [[bor|xno|approcher]], Old French aprochier “to come closer” (modern approcher),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la-lat|appropiāre|t=to go nearer to]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) from ad- “to” and Late Latin propiāre “to come nearer”, from [[m|la|propius|t=nearer]], the comparative of [[m|la|prope|t=near]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) It replaced Old English nēahlǣcan.^(Etymonline) The noun is from the verb.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “To go or come near” in place: about 1300,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) about 1305 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By the late 14th century the verb also meant to come near in time, and to come near in quality or character, to resemble.^(Etymonline) To make an overture or proposal to someone is from about 1325.^(OED 1989) The noun, “the act of drawing near, arrival”, is from the mid-15th century^(Etymonline) (before 1460 in Barnhart).^(Barnhart 1988) A way or means of reaching a place is from the 1630s,^(Etymonline) and advances made toward personal relations from 1642.^(OED 1989) The figurative sense, a way of dealing with a problem, is attested by 1905,^(Etymonline) and the final stage of an aircraft's flight before landing by 1930.^(Etymonline) In golf an approach is a shot toward the green.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – verb, to come near.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1325 – to make overtures to.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – to come near in time or quality.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1460 – noun, a drawing near.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1630s – a way of access.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1905 – a way of dealing with a problem.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1930 – an aircraft's approach.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To come near or nearer in space or time.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To come close to in quality or amount; to approximate.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To speak to someone with a request or proposal.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To begin to deal with (a problem or task).^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of coming near.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A [[method]] of dealing with something.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A way of reaching a place; an access road.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # The final part of an aircraft's flight before [[landing]].^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(golf)'' A shot made toward the green.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[approacher]]

+ * [[approachless]]

+ * [[unapproached]]

+ * [[reapproach]]

+ * [[approachable]]

+ * [[unapproachable]]

+ * [[unapproaching]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[reproach]]

+ * [[approximate]]

+ * [[propinquity]]

+ * [[proximity]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}