silver English · revision 3104

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=c. 825|origins=gem-pro *silubr}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈsɪl.və/, US /ˈsɪl.vɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|silver]], [[inh|ang|seolfor|t=silver; silver coin, money]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Mercian sylfur,^(Etymonline) from [[gem-pro|*silubr]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) the source also of Old Saxon silubar, Dutch zilver, German Silber, Old Norse silfr and Gothic silubr.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is of uncertain origin, and is related in some way to the Balto-Slavic words, such as Old Church Slavonic sĭrebro and Lithuanian sidabras.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) It has long been thought a Wanderwort of Eastern origin,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) and Barnhart compares Assyrian ṣarpu “silver”.^(Barnhart 1988) Boutkan suggests instead a Hispano-Celtic word from an Iberian source, which would fit Basque zilharr.^(Etymonline) It replaced the Indo-European word represented by Latin argentum.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The metal: about 825 in the OED,^(OED 1989) and before 830 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988) The adjective, “made of silver”, is from 1032 in Old English.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old English it also meant silver coin, money,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and in Scots ''siller'' still means money.^(Wright 1898) Articles made of silver, silverware, are from about 1300,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and a silvery colour or lustre from 1481.^(OED 1989) Of voices and words, from the metal's pleasing ring, it is from the 1520s, and ''silver-tongued'' from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) Of grey hair it is by the 1580s.^(Etymonline) The ''silver age'', a phrase of Greek and Roman poets, is in English from the 1560s.^(Etymonline) A literal ''silver spoon'' is from the late 15th century.^(Etymonline) The verb, “to coat with silver”, is from about 1350,^(Barnhart 1988) the mid-14th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) and “to tinge with grey” from about 1600.^(Etymonline) A silver medal is ''silver'' from 1960.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 825 – the metal.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1032 – adjective, made of silver.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – silverware.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1350 – verb, to coat with silver.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1481 – a silvery colour.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1520s – of voices.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – ''silver-tongued''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1960 – a silver medal.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A shiny white precious metallic [[element]], used in jewellery, tableware and coins; symbol Ag.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Coins made of silver; money.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Articles made of or plated with silver; [[silverware]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A shiny grey colour.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A silver [[medal]].^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Made of or containing silver.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Shiny greyish-white, like silver; of hair, grey.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Of sound, soft and clear.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Marking a 25th [[anniversary]]: ''silver wedding''.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To coat with silver.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To make or become silvery or grey.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[silverer]]

+ * [[silverish]]

+ * [[silverless]]

+ * [[silverlike]]

+ * [[silverness]]

+ * [[desilver]]

+ * [[desilverize]]

+ * [[nonsilver]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[silverware]]

+ * [[silversmith]]

+ * [[silvery]]

+ * [[argent]]

+ * [[quicksilver]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}