share English · revision 3527

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ʃeə/, US /ʃer/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|portion}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000 (Old English scearu)|origins=gem-pro *skeraz}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The portion is [[inh|enm|share]], [[inh|ang|scearu|t=a cutting, shearing, tonsure; a division]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[gem-pro|*skeraz]],^(Etymonline) from the base of [[m|ang|sceran|t=to cut]], the source of [[shear]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) Its cognates include [[goh|scara|t=troop, share of forced labour]] and [[de|Schar|t=troop, band]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(Klein 1966) originally “a part of an army”.^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) Etymonline traces it to [[ine-pro|*sker-|t=to cut]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) The sense development is compared with that of [[section]].^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old English ''scearu'' was used mostly in compounds such as [[m|ang|landscearu|t=a share of land]] and [[m|ang|folcscearu|t=a division of the people]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) A portion of something belonging to someone is from 1372,^(OED 1989) first in a duty levied on fishing boats, and about 1375 in general use.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Hoad notes that the earliest examples are in Anglo-French and Anglo-Latin documents.^(Hoad 1986) A part of a thing owned by a number in common, such as booty, is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and a part of the capital of a company from about 1600^(Etymonline) or 1601.^(OED 1989) A part taken in an action or experience, as in ''have a share in'', is from 1592.^(OED 1989) The verb meant “to apportion” from 1590,^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) and “to give part of one's own to others” and “to take a part” from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) “To confess one's sins openly”, and later “to talk about one's experiences”, is from 1932.^(Etymonline) The same Old English noun gave an obsolete ''share'', “the groin, pubic region”, recorded from about 1000,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) hence ''share-bone'', the pubis.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – Old English ''scearu'', the groin; a division.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1372 – a portion.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1590 – verb, to apportion.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1592 – a part taken in something.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1600 – a share in a company.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1932 – verb, to share in a group.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A part or portion belonging to, given to or owed by someone.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A fair or due portion.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Any of the equal parts into which a company's capital is divided.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To divide and give out in shares.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To use, enjoy or experience together with others.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To give others a part of; to tell others about.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To have a part in something.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[shareable]]

+ * [[sharer]]

+ * [[shareholder]]

+ * [[sharecropper]]

+ * [[timeshare]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|ploughshare}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725 (Old English scear)|origins=gem-pro *skeraz}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The blade is [[inh|enm|schare]], [[inh|ang|scear|t=ploughshare]] (also [[m|ang|scær]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) literally “that which cuts”,^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) from [[gem-pro|*skeraz]],^(Etymonline) from the base of [[shear]].^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986) Its cognates include [[ofs|sker]] and [[goh|scaro|t=ploughshare]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) and Dutch [[m|nl|ploegschaar]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) Etymonline traces it to [[ine-pro|*sker-|t=to cut]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The iron blade of a plough: Old English ''scear'', about 725,^(OED 1989) or before 800.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Middle English form is ''ssare'' about 1300 and ''schare'' about 1350.^(Barnhart 1988) The analogous part of a seed drill is a ''share'' from 1731.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) The longer [[ploughshare]] is now the usual word.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''scear''.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – Middle English ''ssare''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1731 – the blade of a seed drill.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[ploughshare]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A similar blade on a seed drill.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[shear]]

+ * [[shard]]

+ * [[ploughshare]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary compares ''share'' with ''participate'' and ''partake''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}