adult English · revision 3100

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1531|origins=la adolēscō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈæd.ʌlt/, /əˈdʌlt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|adultus|t=grown up, mature, ripe]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) perhaps through [[m|frm|adulte]],^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) the past participle of [[m|la|adolēscere|t=to grow up, come to maturity]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|ad-|t=to]] and [[m|la|alēscere|t=to be nourished, grow]],^(Etymonline) an inchoative of [[m|la|alere|t=to nourish]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[ine-pro|*al-|t=to grow, nourish]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[adolescent]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) The noun is from the adjective.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Grown up, mature: 1531,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) though not common until the mid-17th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun, a grown-up person, is from 1658 in Barnhart and the OED^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and 1655 in Merriam-Webster.^(MWU 2024) Figuratively, of plants or languages, “full-grown” is from 1670.^(OED 1989) ''Adult education'' is from 1851.^(OED 1989) “Mature in attitude or outlook” is from 1929.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In the old British film ratings, ''A'' meant suitable for adult audiences (1914).^(Etymonline) As a euphemism for “pornographic”, of films or shops, it dates from 1958;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Etymonline remarks that this does the word no honour.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1531 – adjective, grown up.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1658 – noun, an adult person.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1670 – of plants or languages, mature.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1851 – ''adult education''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1929 – mature in attitude.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1958 – euphemism for pornographic.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who is fully grown or has reached legal age.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A fully grown animal or plant.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Fully grown and developed; [[mature]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Intended for or suitable for adults.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(euphemistic)'' [[pornography|alt=Pornographic]]: ''adult films''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[adulthood]]

+ * [[adultness]]

+ * [[adultly]]

+ * [[adultlike]]

+ * [[nonadult]]

+ * [[preadult]]

+ * [[subadult]]

+ * [[unadult]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[adolescent]]

+ * [[adolescence]]

+ * [[alimony]]

+ * [[alma mater]]

+ * [[altitude]]

+ * [[old]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}