fix English · revision 3437

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1370|origins=la fīgō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /fɪks/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|fixen]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) probably [[bor|fro|*fixer]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|fro|fix|t=fixed]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) or from [[la-med|fīxāre]],^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) from [[la|fīxus|t=fixed, fast]], past participle of [[m|la|fīgere|t=to fasten, drive in, pierce]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[ine-pro|*dheigʷ-|t=to pierce, stick in]].^(Etymonline) Some derive it from an English adjective fix, from Latin fīxus, but Barnhart notes that the adjective is recorded about 25 years after the verb.^(Barnhart 1988) An older Middle English fichen, from French ficher, was gradually displaced by it.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To set one's eyes or mind on something: about 1370, in Chaucer's ''An ABC''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “To fasten, attach” is from about 1400,^(Etymonline) “to make firm or stable” from the 15th century,^(Hoad 1986) and to make colours permanent from the 1660s.^(Etymonline) “To settle, assign” became “to adjust, arrange” in the 1660s and then “to repair” in 1737, a use long objected to as American; one critic joked that to fix a watch should mean to stop it.^(Etymonline) “To tamper with”, as a jury or a fight, is from 1790,^(Etymonline) and the euphemism “to castrate a pet” from 1930.^(Etymonline) The noun, “an awkward position”, as in the phrase ''in a fix'', is American from 1809 in Etymonline and 1816 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A dose of a narcotic is from 1934 in Etymonline and 1867 (as fix-up) in the OED,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) the position of a ship or aircraft from 1902,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and a bribe or rigged arrangement from 1929.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1370 – to set one's eyes or mind on.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1400 – to fasten, attach.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1660s – to arrange; to make permanent.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1737 – to repair.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1790 – to tamper with.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1809 – noun, a difficult position.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1902 – a position fix.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1930 – to neuter a pet.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1934 – a dose of a drug.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To fasten securely in place; to attach.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To repair or put right.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To decide or set definitely: ''to fix a date''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To direct the eyes or attention steadily on.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(informal)'' To prepare a meal or drink.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To arrange the outcome of dishonestly: ''to fix a race''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To make a [[photograph|alt=photographic]] image or a dye permanent; to convert [[nitrogen]] into a stable compound.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A difficult situation; a [[predicament]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A determination of position, as of a ship.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(slang)'' A dose of a [[narcotic]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Something dishonestly arranged.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A solution or repair: ''a quick fix''.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fixable]]

+ * [[fixer]]

+ * [[fixability]]

+ * [[affix]]

+ * [[fixed]]

+ * [[fixer-upper]]

+ * [[fixings]]

+ * [[fix-it]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fixture]]

+ * [[fixation]]

+ * [[prefix]]

+ * [[suffix]]

+ * [[transfix]]

+ * [[crucifix]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}