range English · revision 3452

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200|origins=frk *hring}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /reɪndʒ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|renge]], [[bor|fro|renge]], [[m|fro|range|t=row, rank]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[m|fro|rengier]], [[m|fro|rangier|t=to put in a row, arrange]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[m|fro|reng]], [[m|fro|rang|t=line, row]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) from [[frk|*hring|t=circle, ring]] or another Germanic source,^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) from [[gem-pro|*hringaz|t=circle, ring]],^(Etymonline) the source of [[ring]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) Etymonline traces it to [[ine-pro|*sker-|t=to turn, bend]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) It is related to [[rank]] and [[arrange]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A row or line of persons, especially hunters or soldiers: about 1200,^(Etymonline) before 1300 in the OED,^(OED 1989) or before 1325 in the ''Cursor Mundi''.^(Barnhart 1988) The verb “to roam, search over an area” is also from about 1200.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A row of things is from the early 14th century,^(Etymonline) or 1511,^(OED 1989) and a row of buildings from 1600.^(OED 1989) The cooking stove is a ''range'' from the mid-15th century, for unknown reasons;^(Etymonline) it was originally built into a fireplace.^(Etymonline) “Scope, extent” is by the late 15th century.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The distance a gun can send a shot is from the 1590s, and a place for shooting practice from 1862.^(Etymonline) The area where animals seek food is from the 1620s.^(Etymonline) A row of mountains is a ''range'' by 1705.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In the United States a series of townships six miles wide is from 1785.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The verb “to arrange in rows” is from about 1300, and “to vary within limits” developed later.^(Etymonline)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – a row of people; verb, to roam.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 14th century – a line, row.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-15th century – a cooking stove.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 15th century – scope.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – the range of a gun.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1620s – grazing land.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1705 – a mountain range.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1862 – a shooting range.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The extent of perception, knowledge or ability; the area or sphere of an activity; [[scope]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # The amount of variation between limits: ''a price range''.^(AHD)

+ # The maximum distance a weapon or vehicle can reach.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A place for shooting practice.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A line or chain of mountains.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # An extensive area of open land for grazing.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A cooking stove.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To vary within limits.^(AHD)

+ # To arrange in rows; to classify.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To roam over an area; to extend in a direction.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[wide-ranging]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rank]]

+ * [[arrange]]

+ * [[ring]]

+ * [[ranger]]

+ * [[derange]]

+ * [[harangue]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary compares ''range'' with ''scope'', ''reach'', ''compass'', ''orbit'' and ''purview''.^(AHD) A separate dialect ''range'', “a sieve; to sift meal”, is of unknown origin.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}