seem English · revision 3377

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200|origins=ine-pro *sem-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /siːm/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|semen|t=to befit; to appear to be]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) of Scandinavian origin:^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1988) compare Old Norse [[m|non|sœma|t=to honour; to conform to]], from [[m|non|sœmr|t=fitting]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986) The Norse words are from Proto-Germanic *sōmiz, the source also of Old English [[m|ang|sōm|t=agreement, reconciliation]] and [[m|ang|sēman|t=to reconcile]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*sem-|t=one; as one, together]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) so ''seem'' is related to [[same]].^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024) The noun is from the verb.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “To befit, be suitable to”: probably before 1200;^(Barnhart 1988) “to appear to be”, impersonal ''hit semeth'' “it seems”, about 1200^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) or before 1200.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “to be fitting or appropriate”, from about 1300, is the original one, but it is obsolete except in the derived [[seemly]] and [[unseemly]].^(Etymonline) With other verbs, as in ''seem to be'', it is from about 1200.^(Etymonline) “To be visible, be apparent” is a Middle English sense of the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and “to appear to oneself, think oneself” is from the 1630s.^(Etymonline) An obsolete sense “to vouchsafe, deign” is from before 1300.^(OED 1989) The noun, “seeming, appearance”, is from about 1440 and is now chiefly Scots.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1200 – to befit.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – to appear to be.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – to be fitting.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1440 – noun, appearance.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1630s – to think oneself.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give the impression of being; to [[appear]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To appear to one's own mind: ''I seem to remember''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To appear to be true or likely.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To appear to exist.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[misseem]]

+ * [[seemer]]

+ * [[meseems]]

+ * [[seeming]]

+ * [[seemly]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[unseemly]]

+ * [[beseem]]

+ * [[same]]

+ * [[similar]]

+ * [[semblance]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}