player English · revision 3514

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1000 (Old English plegere)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈpleɪ.ə/, US /ˈpleɪ.ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|pleiere]], [[inh|ang|plegere|t=one who takes part in pastimes]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024) an agent noun from [[m|ang|plegan|t=to play]], the source of [[play]], with the suffix [[-er]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who plays, in a general sense: Old English ''plegere'', about 1000;^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) the OED notes that the Old English example seems to be a glossator's mistranslation.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ One who takes part in a game, such as chess or tennis, is recorded from about 1420,^(OED 1989) and of table games from the late 14th century according to Etymonline.^(Etymonline) A contestant in field or martial games is from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) A gambler is a ''player'' from 1483.^(OED 1989) The stage senses, “actor” and “one who plays a musical instrument”, are from about 1400,^(Etymonline) or 1463 in the OED.^(OED 1989) William Taylor distinguished in 1813 between an ''actor'' and a mere ''player'' who takes to the stage for a living.^(Etymonline) A professional cricketer or golfer, as opposed to an amateur, was a ''player'' from 1806.^(OED 1989) ''Player piano'' is from 1901.^(Etymonline) A pimp's word for himself, also ''playa'', is attested from 1974.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – Old English ''plegere''.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – an actor; a musician.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1420 – one who plays a game.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1483 – a gambler.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1806 – a professional cricketer.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1901 – ''player piano''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1974 – slang, a pimp or womanizer.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who takes part in a game or sport.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A [[gambler]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # An [[actor]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A person who plays a musical instrument.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # An active participant: ''a key player in the talks''.^(AHD)

+ # A device that plays recorded sound or video.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cardplayer]]

+ * [[horseplayer]]

+ * [[nonplayer]]

+ * [[superplayer]]

+ * [[bit player]]

+ * [[piano player]]

+ * [[player piano]]

+ * [[record player]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[play]]

+ * [[playful]]

+ * [[playwright]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}