career English · revision 3369

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1534|origins=la carrus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /kəˈrɪə/, US /kəˈrɪr/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|carrière|t=racecourse, road]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from Old Provençal [[m|pro|carriera|t=street, road for vehicles]]^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) or Italian [[m|it|carriera]],^(Etymonline)^(COED 2004)^(Hoad 1986) from Medieval Latin carrāria, short for via carrāria “road for carts”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000)^(Klein 1966) from [[la|carrus|t=a wheeled vehicle, wagon]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) a Gaulish type of wagon,^(AHD 2000) the source of [[car]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The verb is from the noun.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A running, usually at full speed; a course: about 1534^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) or the 1530s, especially of the sun across the sky.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Word Origins says the core idea of ''career'' is progress along a course.^(Cresswell 2021) Early senses were “a racecourse” and “a short gallop at full speed, a charge”,^(Cresswell 2021) as of a horse, from 1571.^(OED 1989) The general sense “course of action” is from the 1590s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and “the course of one's public or professional life” from 1803,^(Etymonline) a re-adoption from French in the 19th century, according to Hoad.^(Hoad 1986) The verb meant “to charge at a tournament” in the 1590s, and “to run at full speed” from the 1640s, from the image of a horse “passing a career” on the jousting field.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The adjective, as in ''a career diplomat'', is from 1952 in Merriam-Webster.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1534 – a swift course.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1571 – a horse's gallop.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1590s – a course of action; verb, to charge.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1640s – verb, to rush.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1803 – a course of professional life.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1952 – adjective.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A chosen [[profession]] or occupation.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # The course of one's working life or professional achievements.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A path or course, as of the sun across the sky.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Speed: ''in full career''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Following an occupation as a permanent profession: ''a career diplomat''.^(AHD)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To move swiftly and often out of control; to rush.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[careerism]]

+ * [[careerist]]

+ * [[career woman]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[car]]

+ * [[carry]]

+ * [[cargo]]

+ * [[chariot]]

+ * [[carriage]]

+ * [[charge]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}