guide English · revision 3393

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1376|origins=ine-pro *weid-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɡaɪd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is [[inh|enm|giden]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|guider|t=to guide, lead]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) an alteration, influenced by Old Provençal guidar or Italian guidare, of earlier [[m|fro|guier]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[frk|*witan|t=to show the way]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[gem-pro|*witaną|t=to look after, guard]],^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*weid-|t=to see, know]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to Old English wītan “to blame”, German weisen “to show” and English [[wit]] and [[wise]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) The noun is from Old French guide, from Old Provençal guida.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The noun, one who leads or shows the way: before 1376, in ''Piers Plowman'',^(Barnhart 1988) and 1362 in the OED.^(OED 1989) The verb, to lead, direct, conduct: about 1380, in Chaucer's Boethius.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The spelling with ''u'' appeared before 1393 but was not frequent until the late 16th century.^(Barnhart 1988) A soldier or person forced to lead an invading army is from about 1540.^(OED 1989) The figurative sense, someone or something that directs conduct, is from 1599.^(OED 1989) The word appeared in book titles from the 1610s,^(Etymonline) and a book of information for travellers from 1759.^(Etymonline) ''Guide-post'' is from 1774, ''guidebook'' from 1823, in Byron,^(Barnhart 1988) the ''guide dog'' for the blind from 1932,^(Etymonline) and the ''guided missile'' from 1945.^(Etymonline) ''Guidance'' is from 1538.^(Barnhart 1988) In 18th-century France an idiot's guide was a guide-âne, literally “guide for donkeys”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1362 – one who leads the way.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1380 – verb, to lead.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1538 – ''guidance''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1599 – a model for conduct.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1759 – a guidebook.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1823 – ''guidebook''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1932 – ''guide dog''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1945 – ''guided missile''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who shows the way, especially one employed to lead tourists or travellers.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A person or thing that directs conduct; a model.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A book of information, as for travellers: ''a guide to Rome''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A device that directs the motion of something, as a bar or track.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''Guide'': a member of the Girl Guides.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To show the way to; to [[lead]] or conduct.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To direct the course of; to [[steer]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To influence or advise.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[guidable]]

+ * [[guider]]

+ * [[guideless]]

+ * [[guidingly]]

+ * [[guidance]]

+ * [[guideboard]]

+ * [[guidebook]]

+ * [[guideline]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[wit]]

+ * [[wise]]

+ * [[guise]]

+ * [[vision]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}