follow English · revision 3474

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725 (Beowulf)|origins=gem-pro *fulgōną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈfɒl.əʊ/, US /ˈfɑː.loʊ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|folwen]], [[inh|ang|folgian]], also [[m|ang|fylgan]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[gem-pro|*fulgōną]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Its cognates include [[ofs|folgia]], [[osx|folgon]], [[nl|volgen]], [[de|folgen]] and [[non|fylgja|t=to accompany, help, follow]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002)^(Klein 1966) Hoad calls it of unknown origin.^(Hoad 1986) Etymonline suggests it was originally a compound “full-going”, with a sense shifting to “serve, go with as an attendant”,^(Etymonline) and Merriam-Webster and Klein compare Welsh [[m|cy|ôl|t=track, trace]].^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To go after, accompany, especially as a disciple: Old English ''folgian'', about 725, in ''Beowulf''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Old English also used it for “to obey a rule; to apply oneself to a calling”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “To accept as leader or guide, obey” is late Old English.^(Etymonline) “To come after in time” and “to result from” are from about 1200,^(Etymonline) and the intransitive “to come behind” from the mid-13th century.^(Etymonline) “To keep up with mentally, understand” is from the 1690s.^(Etymonline) ''Follow one's nose'', “go straight on”, is from the 1590s,^(Etymonline) and the game ''follow my leader'' is so called from 1812.^(Etymonline) The noun, in billiards a stroke that makes the cue ball roll on after the object ball, is from 1873,^(OED 1989) and ''follow-up'' from 1923.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''folgian'' (''Beowulf'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – to come after in time; to result from.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-13th century – intransitive, to come behind.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – ''follow one's nose''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1690s – to understand.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1812 – ''follow my leader''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1873 – noun, in billiards.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To come or go after; to [[pursue]]; to keep under surveillance.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To move along the course of: ''follow the road''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To accept the guidance or leadership of; to obey; to take as a model.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To come after in order or time; to occur as a consequence.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To grasp the meaning of; to understand.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To keep informed about: ''follow the news''.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A billiards shot in which the cue ball follows the object ball.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[followable]]

+ * [[follower]]

+ * [[following]]

+ * [[follow-on]]

+ * [[follow-through]]

+ * [[follow-up]]

+ * [[follow out]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fellow]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary notes that ''as follows'' is the established form whether the preceding noun is singular or plural, and compares ''follow'' with ''succeed'', ''ensue'' and ''result''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}