success English · revision 3347

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1537|origins=la cēdere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /səkˈses/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|successus|t=an advance; a good result]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) the noun use of the past participle of [[m|la|succēdere|t=to come after, follow; to prosper]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the source of [[succeed]],^(AHD 2000)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|sub|t=next to, after]] and [[m|la|cēdere|t=to go, move]],^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*ked-|t=to go, yield]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Result, outcome”, favourable or not: 1537^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate) or the 1530s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Good success'' is from the 1540s, and ''success'' alone for “the achievement of what is desired” by the 1580s,^(Etymonline) before 1586 in the OED.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) The original neutral sense became obsolete in the 18th century.^(Etymonline) In the 16th and 17th centuries ''success'' also meant “succession, order of sequence”.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) Success with particular reference to wealth or high position is first recorded in 1885, in Oliver Wendell Holmes,^(Barnhart 1988) and a person or thing that succeeds is ''a success'' from 1882.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Etymonline quotes William James on “the bitch-goddess success”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1537 – an outcome.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1540s – ''good success''.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1586 – a favourable outcome.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1666 – a successful undertaking.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1882 – a successful person or thing.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1885 – wealth and position.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The achievement of something desired or attempted.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # The gaining of fame, wealth or position.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # A person or thing that succeeds.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' A result or outcome.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[successless]]

+ * [[successlessly]]

+ * [[successlessness]]

+ * [[nonsuccess]]

+ * [[unsuccess]]

+ * [[successful]]

+ * [[Lake Success]]

+ * [[success story]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[succeed]]

+ * [[succession]]

+ * [[successor]]

+ * [[cede]]

+ * [[proceed]]

+ * [[exceed]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}