paper English · revision 3363

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1341–2|origins=grc πάπυρος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈpeɪ.pə/, US /ˈpeɪ.pɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|paper]], also papir,^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) [[bor|xno|papir]] and Old French papier “paper, document”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[la|papȳrus|t=papyrus plant; paper made from it]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) from [[grc|πάπυρος|tr=pápuros|t=any plant of the papyrus genus]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(AHD 2000) a loanword of unknown origin, often said to be Egyptian.^(Etymonline) Word Origins notes that [[papyrus]] was taken directly from Latin, first as the name of the reed in Middle English and only in the 18th century for the writing material.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The writing material: 1341–2 in the OED,^(OED 1989) 1364 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) or the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline) Paper bearing writing, written documents, is from 1386.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A newspaper is ''a paper'' from the 1640s^(Etymonline) or 1642.^(Barnhart 1988) An essay or dissertation is from the 1660s,^(Etymonline) and ''papers'', documents establishing one's identity or standing, from the 1680s.^(Etymonline) Paper money is from the 1690s,^(Etymonline) and bills of exchange are ''paper'' by 1722.^(Etymonline) Wallpaper is from 1764.^(Etymonline) The verb, “to write down on paper”, is from 1594;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) “to decorate a room with paper” is from 1774,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and ''paper over'', “to conceal temporarily”, from 1955.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The adjective, “made of paper”, is from the 1590s,^(Etymonline) and “existing only on paper, flimsy” from 1716.^(Etymonline) ''Paper tiger'' (1952) translates a Chinese phrase popularized by Mao Zedong.^(Etymonline) ''Paper clip'' is by 1875.^(Etymonline) A set of examination questions is from the 19th century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1341–2 – the writing material.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1386 – written documents.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1594 – verb, to write down.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1642 – a newspaper.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1660s – an essay.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1690s – paper money.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1764 – wallpaper.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1875 – ''paper clip''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1952 – ''paper tiger''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1955 – ''paper over''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A thin material made from [[cellulose]] pulp, used for writing, printing, wrapping and covering walls.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A sheet of this material, or a written document.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A [[newspaper]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # An essay or scholarly article.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(plural)'' Documents proving identity or status.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A set of examination questions.^(Hoad 1986)

+ # Paper money or [[commercial paper]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To cover with paper or [[wallpaper]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To conceal a problem: ''to paper over the cracks''.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Made of paper.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Existing only on paper; [[theoretical]] or flimsy.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[paperer]]

+ * [[paperless]]

+ * [[paperlike]]

+ * [[paper tiger]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[papyrus]]

+ * [[paper over]]

+ * [[paperback]]

+ * [[newspaper]]

+ * [[wallpaper]]

+ * [[bible]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}