center English · revision 3515

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1380 (Chaucer)|origins=grc κεντέω}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈsen.tə/, US /ˈsen.t̬ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|centre]], [[bor|fro|centre]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) a learned borrowing from [[la|centrum]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) originally the fixed point of a drafting compass,^(Etymonline) from [[grc|κέντρον|tr=kéntron|t=sharp point, goad; stationary point of a compass; centre of a circle]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) from [[m|grc|κεντέω|tr=kentéō|t=to prick, goad]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(AHD 2000) Etymonline traces it to [[ine-pro|*kent-|t=to prick]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The middle point of a circle, the point round which something revolves: about 1380, in Chaucer's ''Boethius'',^(Barnhart 1988) or the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The middle of anything is from the 1590s,^(Etymonline) and figuratively a point of concentration, as of power, from the 1680s.^(Etymonline) ''Centre of gravity'' is from the 1650s.^(Etymonline) In politics, representatives of moderate views between left and right are the ''centre'' from 1837, first of France.^(Etymonline) ''Centre of attention'' is from 1868.^(Etymonline) The verb meant “to concentrate at a centre” from the 1590s^(Etymonline) or 1590,^(MW Collegiate) and “to rest as at a centre” from the 1620s.^(Etymonline) ''To be centered on'' is from 1713, and ''-centered'' in compounds by 1958.^(Etymonline) The sports sense, “to hit toward the centre”, is from 1890.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1380 – the centre of a circle (Chaucer).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1590s – the middle of anything; verb, to concentrate.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1650s – ''centre of gravity''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1680s – a point of concentration.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1713 – ''centered on''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1837 – the political centre.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1868 – ''centre of attention''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1890 – verb, in sport.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A point or place equally distant from the sides or boundaries; the middle.^(AHD)

+ # ''(geometry)'' A point equally distant from all points of a [[circle]] or sphere.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A point round which something turns.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A place where an activity is concentrated: ''a shopping center''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A person or thing that is the focus of attention.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(politics)'' Moderate parties or views.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(sports)'' A player in the middle position.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To place in or at the center.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To direct toward a center; to [[focus]].^(AHD)

+ # To be concentrated; to have as a main theme.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[centerless]]

+ * [[centerable]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[central]]

+ * [[centre]]

+ * [[centrifugal]]

+ * [[concentrate]]

+ * [[eccentric]]

+ * [[egocentric]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Etymonline notes that the spelling ''centre'' was popularized in Britain by Johnson's dictionary, following Bailey's, though ''center'' is older and was used by Shakespeare, Milton and Pope.^(Etymonline) The American Heritage Dictionary notes that ''center around'' has been condemned as illogical, though writers persist in using it, while ''center on'', ''upon'', ''in'' and ''at'' are freely accepted;^(AHD) it also compares ''center'' with ''focus'', ''headquarters'', ''heart'', ''hub'' and ''seat''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}