committee English · revision 3282

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1495}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /kəˈmɪt.i/, US /kəˈmɪt̬.i/; law, “one committed”: UK /ˌkɒm.ɪˈtiː/, US /ˌkɑː.mɪˈtiː/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|commit|-ee]], “one to whom something is committed”,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) after Anglo-Norman comité, the past participle of cometre “to commit”,^(AHD 2000)^(Etymonline) which replaced Old French commis, from Latin commissus, the past participle of [[la|committere]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A person to whom a charge or trust is committed: 1495,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) the late 15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A body of people appointed or elected to deal with some special business is from 1621, first in Parliament,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) either a new formation or an extension of the old noun.^(Etymonline) The old sense, an individual, survives in law, where the ''committee'' of a person of unsound mind is the one to whom their care is committed, from 1765, pronounced with the stress on the last syllable.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)^(Roach et al. 2011) The directors of the East India Company were each called a committee from 1681.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1495 – a person entrusted with a duty.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1621 – a body of persons in Parliament.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1681 – a director of the East India Company.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1765 – the guardian of a lunatic (law).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A group of people chosen to examine or deal with a particular matter.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(law)'' A person to whom the care of someone or their property is entrusted.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[committeeism]]

+ * [[committal]]

+ * [[committeeman]]

+ * [[committeeperson]]

+ * [[committeewoman]]

+ * [[subcommittee]]

+ * [[school committee]]

+ * [[standing committee]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[commit]]

+ * [[commission]]

+ * [[commissary]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}