save English · revision 3471

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /seɪv/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|rescue, keep}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200 (Ancrene Riwle)|origins=la salvus}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is [[inh|enm|sauven]], later saven,^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|fro|sauver]], [[m|fro|salver|t=to keep safe, protect, redeem]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[la-lat|salvāre|t=to make safe]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|salvus|t=safe]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) the source of [[safe]], from [[ine-pro|*sol-|t=whole, well-kept]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To rescue, bring to safety: probably before 1200, in the ''Ancrene Riwle'',^(Barnhart 1988) or about 1200,^(Etymonline) when it also meant “to deliver from sin, admit to eternal life”.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “To store up, keep instead of spending” is from about 1300,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and “to keep possession of” from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) In sports, “to prevent the other side from scoring” is by 1816, and the noun ''save'' from 1890.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A baseball save by a relief pitcher is from 1962,^(OED 1989) and saving a computer file is from 1982 as a noun.^(OED 1989) ''To save appearances'', to avoid embarrassment, is by 1711;^(Etymonline) ''to save face'' (1898) arose among the British community in China and is said to be from Chinese.^(Etymonline) ''Not to do something to save one's life'' is from 1848, and ''save one's breath'' from 1926.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – to rescue; to redeem (''Ancrene Riwle'').^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1300 – to store up.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1711 – ''save appearances''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1816 – verb, in sports.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1890 – noun, in sports.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1898 – ''save face''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1982 – noun, saving a computer file.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To rescue from harm, danger or loss; to set free from [[sin]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To keep safe; to [[safeguard]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To prevent the waste or loss of; to set aside for future use; to accumulate money.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To make unnecessary: ''saves time''.^(AHD)

+ # To prevent an opponent from scoring.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(computing)'' To store data, such as a file, for later use.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An act that prevents an opponent from scoring.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(baseball)'' The preservation of a win by a relief pitcher.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[saver]]

+ * [[saving]]

+ * [[savings]]

+ * [[savable]]

+ * [[lifesaver]]

+ * [[timesaver]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|except}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la salvus}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The preposition is [[inh|enm|sauf]], from [[m|enm|sauf|t=safe]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) modelled on [[fro|sauf]], [[m|fro|sauve]], the adjective [[safe]] used as a preposition,^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) from Latin [[m|la|salvō]], [[m|la|salvā]], ablative of [[m|la|salvus|t=safe]], used in absolute phrases such as [[m|la|salvō jūre|t=without violation of the right]].^(SOED 2002)^(COED 2004)^(AHD 2000) Old French had phrases such as saulve l'honneur “save (our) honour”.^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Except, with the exception of: about 1300,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) or before 1300.^(OED 1989) The conjunction, introducing an exception, is also from before 1300.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Barnhart explains that the adjective ''safe'' meant “keeping intact, reserving” and so “excepting”, as Old French ''sauf'' did.^(Barnhart 1988) The conjunction “unless” is from 1390.^(OED 1989) The preposition is now formal or literary.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – preposition, except.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1390 – conjunction, unless.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # With the exception of; except.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # Except; were it not that; unless.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[safe]]

+ * [[salvage]]

+ * [[salvation]]

+ * [[salvo]]

+ * [[salute]]

+ * [[salve]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary compares ''save'' with ''rescue'', ''reclaim'', ''redeem'' and ''deliver'': ''save'' is the most general.^(AHD) An obsolete ''save'', “sage” (the herb), is recorded from about 1386.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}