progress English · revision 3184

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1425|origins=la gradior}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: noun UK /ˈprəʊ.ɡres/, US /ˈprɑː.ɡres/; verb /prəˈɡres/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|progresse]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|la|prōgressus|t=an advance, a going forward]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) partly through Old French progres,^(Etymonline) from the past participle of [[m|la|prōgredī|t=to go forward]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|prō-|t=forward]] and [[m|la|gradī|t=to step, walk]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) from [[m|la|gradus|t=a step]],^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*ghredh-|t=to walk, go]].^(Etymonline) The verb is from the noun.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Latin gradī is also in [[regress]], [[aggression]] and [[ingredient]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Course or process, forward movement: probably before 1425, in a translation of Higden's ''Polychronicon'',^(Barnhart 1988) the early 15th century in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) the OED's figurative use is from 1432–50.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In early English it was used especially of a state journey by a sovereign or noble,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from 1461^(OED 1989) (about 1450 in Barnhart),^(Barnhart 1988) and of a military march before 1460.^(Barnhart 1988) The figurative sense of growth and advancement to higher stages is from 1603,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) though the senses are hard to tell apart in earlier texts.^(Etymonline) ''In progress'', “under way”, is from 1849 and keeps the older neutral sense of “a course”, as in Hogarth's ''Rake's Progress''.^(Etymonline) ''Progress report'' is from 1865.^(Etymonline) The verb, “to journey”, is from about 1590,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and “to advance” from 1595, in Shakespeare's ''King John''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) It fell out of use in England in the 18th century but was kept or formed again in America, and on its return to Britain about 1800 it was long thought an Americanism.^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1425 – noun, course, forward movement.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1461 – a royal state journey.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1590 – verb, to journey.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1595 – verb, to advance.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1603 – advancement, development.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1800 – the verb readopted in Britain from America.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1849 – ''in progress''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1865 – ''progress report''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Forward movement towards a goal or destination.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Development or improvement, as of a society or a person's work.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(historical)'' A ceremonial journey by a sovereign through the realm.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To move forward; to [[proceed]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To develop or improve steadily.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[progressist]]

+ * [[work in progress]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[congress]]

+ * [[egress]]

+ * [[ingress]]

+ * [[regress]]

+ * [[retrogress]]

+ * [[grade]]

+ * [[progressive]]

+ * [[progressivism]]

+ * [[progression]]

+ * [[aggression]]

+ * [[ingredient]]

+ * [[degree]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}