lead English · revision 3529

+ Two different Old English words have come together in the spelling ''lead'', with different pronunciations.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: guide /liːd/; metal /led/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|guide}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 725 (Old English lǣdan)|origins=gem-pro *laidijaną}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ To guide is [[inh|enm|leden]], [[inh|ang|lǣdan|t=to cause to go with oneself, go before as a guide]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[gem-pro|*laidijaną]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) a causative of the verb seen in Old English [[m|ang|līþan|t=to travel, go]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024) Its cognates include [[ofs|lēda]], [[osx|lēdian]], [[nl|leiden]], [[de|leiten]] and [[non|leiða]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) Watkins derives it from [[ine-pro|*leit-|t=to go forth]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) It is related to [[load]] and [[lode]].^(SOED 2002)^(COED 2004)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To bring or take a person or animal to a place: Old English ''lǣdan'', before 725^(Barnhart 1988) or about 825.^(OED 1989) Middle English ''leden'' is from 1125.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old English ''lǣdan'' also meant “to carry on, pass one's life”, as in ''lead a life''.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Of roads, “to go toward”, it is from about 1200.^(Etymonline) “To be in first place” is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) first in ''lead the dance''.^(Hoad 1986) The noun, “the action of leading”, is from about 1300,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and “the front or leading place” from the 1560s,^(Etymonline) or 1570;^(OED 1989) Johnson called it “a low, despicable word”.^(Etymonline) In card games the right to play first is from 1742,^(Etymonline) a clue to the solution of something from 1851,^(OED 1989) and the chief role in a play later still.^(AHD) In journalism the opening summary of a news story is from 1912 according to Etymonline, often spelled ''lede'',^(Etymonline) or 1927 according to the OED.^(OED 1989) ''Lead someone by the nose'' is from the late 16th century.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 725 – Old English ''lǣdan''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – of roads.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1300 – noun, the act of leading.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – to be in first place.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1560s – noun, the front place.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1742 – the lead in cards.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1851 – a clue.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1912 – the lead of a news story.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To show the way by going in front; to [[guide]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To serve as a route: ''the road leads to town''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To direct or [[command]]; to be at the head of.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To be first or ahead.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To pass or live: ''lead a quiet life''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To tend toward a result: ''leads to trouble''.^(AHD)

+ # To make the first play in a card game.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The first or foremost position; the margin by which one is ahead.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Leadership; an example to follow.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A clue or tip.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # The main role in a play or film, or the actor who plays it.^(AHD)

+ # The opening of a news story.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A [[leash]] for a dog; a wire carrying electric current.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[leader]]

+ * [[leading]]

+ * [[misled]]

+ * [[mislead]]

+ * [[led]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|metal}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=c. 750 (Old English lēad, Cynewulf)|origins=gmw-pro *lauda-}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The metal is [[inh|enm|led]], [[inh|ang|lēad|t=lead, leaden vessel]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from [[gmw-pro|*lauda-]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) a word of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline) Its cognates include [[ofs|lād]], [[nl|lood]] and [[de|Lot|t=plummet, solder]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) Etymonline, Barnhart and Klein think the name and the skill of working the metal were borrowed from the Celts, comparing [[sga|luaide|t=lead]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)^(AHD 2000)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The metal: Old English ''lēad'', about 750, in Cynewulf's ''Juliana'',^(Barnhart 1988) or about 900.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The metal was used figuratively for heaviness, dullness and colour from before 1300.^(OED 1989) Objects made of lead, such as a seal or a plummet, are ''leads'' from 1340.^(OED 1989) ''Black lead'', graphite, is from 1567, and pencil ''lead'' is short for it.^(OED 1989) The verb “to make of lead” is from the early 15th century, and “to cover with lead” from the mid-15th.^(Etymonline) In printing a ''lead'' is a thin strip of metal for spacing lines, from 1841.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 750 – Old English ''lēad'' (Cynewulf).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1340 – objects made of lead.^(OED 1989)

+ * early 15th century – verb, to make of lead.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1567 – ''black lead''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1841 – a printer's lead.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A soft, heavy, bluish-grey metallic [[element]], symbol Pb.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # [[graphite|alt=Graphite]] in a pencil.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A weight on a line for sounding the depth of water.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(printing)'' A thin strip of metal for spacing lines of type.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Bullets; shot.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To cover, line or weight with lead.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To secure window glass with strips of lead.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Made of lead.^(Etymonline)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[leaden]]

+ * [[unleaded]]

+ * [[leaded]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[load]]

+ * [[lode]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}