corner English · revision 3396

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1280|origins=la cornū}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈkɔː.nə/, US /ˈkɔːr.nɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|corner]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|xno|corner]], a variant of Old French cornere,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[m|fro|corne|t=horn, corner]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[la-vul|*corna]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[la|cornua]], plural of [[m|la|cornū|t=horn, point, end]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*ker-|t=horn, head]].^(Etymonline) Latin cornu was used of pointed or stiff things but not of corners, for which the word was angulus.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[horn]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The meeting-place of converging sides or edges: about 1280 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) and 1292 in the OED.^(OED 1989) Etymonline has “a place where streets or walls meet” in the late 13th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ An angle in geometry is from the early 14th century.^(Etymonline) A region or district, as in ''the four corners of the earth'', the corners of the eyes, and a small, secret or retired place are from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) A difficult position is from 1548.^(Barnhart 1988) In boxing ''corner'' is from 1853, and in football it is short for a corner kick by 1882.^(Etymonline) Monopolizing the market supply of a commodity is from 1853, and the verb in this sense from 1836.^(Etymonline) The verb “to furnish with corners” is from before 1387,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) “to drive into a corner” is American English from 1824,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and “to go round a corner”, as in a race, from the 1860s.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) ''Turn the corner'' is from the 1680s, ''just around the corner'', “about to happen”, by 1905, and ''cut corners'' by 1847, figurative by 1882.^(Etymonline) ''Cornerstone'' is from about 1280.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1280 – a corner, and ''cornerstone''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1387 – verb, to furnish with corners.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – a region; a secret place.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1548 – a difficult position.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1680s – ''turn the corner''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1824 – verb, to drive into a corner.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1836 – verb, to monopolize a market.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1853 – in boxing; a monopoly.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The place where two lines, sides or edges meet; the area inside such an [[angle]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The place where two roads or streets meet.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A remote or secluded place; a region: ''every corner of the country''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A difficult or awkward position.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A [[monopoly]] of the supply of a stock or commodity.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(football)'' A [[corner kick]].^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To drive into a position from which escape is difficult.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To gain control of a market by buying up a commodity.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of a vehicle, to turn a corner.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Located on a corner: ''a corner shop''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cornered]]

+ * [[cornerman]]

+ * [[cornerback]]

+ * [[cornerstone]]

+ * [[cornerways]]

+ * [[cornerwise]]

+ * [[catty-corner]]

+ * [[hole-and-corner]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[horn]]

+ * [[cornet]]

+ * [[unicorn]]

+ * [[cornucopia]]

+ * [[Capricorn]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}