copy English · revision 3076

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1330|origins=la cōpia}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈkɒp.i/, US /ˈkɑː.pi/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|copie]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|copie]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la-med|copia|t=reproduction, transcript]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|cōpia|t=plenty, abundance; ability, opportunity]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|la|com-|t=with]] and [[m|la|ops|t=power, wealth]],^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*op-|t=to work, produce in abundance]].^(Etymonline) The sense “transcript” arose in Medieval Latin phrases such as copiam describendi facere “to give permission to transcribe”, whence “right of reproduction” and then simply “reproduction”.^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) The verb is from Old French copier and Medieval Latin copiāre “to transcribe”.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[copious]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A transcript of a writing: about 1330 in the OED,^(OED 1989) before 1338 in Mannyng's ''Chronicle'' in Barnhart (as “a written record”),^(Barnhart 1988) and the mid-14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Latin sense “abundance” was also used in English from about 1375 to the 17th century,^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) and Trench explains that the only way to obtain abundance of a document was to take copies of it.^(Trench 1859) Any reproduction or imitation is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and a picture reproducing another from 1580.^(OED 1989) In the 15th century the word extended to any specimen of writing, especially a manuscript given to a printer to set in type, as in Caxton.^(Etymonline) One of a set of printed reproductions is from the 1530s.^(Etymonline) The verb, “to transcribe”, is from 1387,^(OED 1989) “to imitate” from the 1640s,^(Etymonline) of computer data by 1953,^(Etymonline) and “to send a copy to a third party” from 1983.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Copy-editor'' is from 1889, and ''copyright'' from the 18th century.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1330 – a transcript.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1375 – abundance (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1387 – verb, to transcribe.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 15th century – text for the printer.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1530s – one of a set of copies.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1640s – verb, to imitate.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1889 – ''copy-editor''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1953 – of computer data.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1983 – to copy someone in.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A reproduction or imitation of an original; a [[duplicate]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # One example of a book, newspaper or other printed work.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Text prepared for printing; the words of an [[advertisement]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Material suitable for a newspaper story.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make a copy of.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To follow as a model; to [[imitate]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To send a copy of a message to.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[copyable]]

+ * [[copybook]]

+ * [[copygirl]]

+ * [[copyholder]]

+ * [[copyist]]

+ * [[copyright]]

+ * [[miscopy]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[copious]]

+ * [[cornucopia]]

+ * [[opulent]]

+ * [[opera]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}