film English · revision 3530

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000 (Old English filmen)|origins=gmw-pro *filminjan}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /fɪlm/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|filme]], [[inh|ang|filmen|t=membrane, thin skin, foreskin]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[gmw-pro|*filminjan]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) extended from [[gem-pro|*fellą|t=animal hide]],^(Etymonline) the source of Old English [[m|ang|fell|t=hide]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966) It is related to [[ofs|filmene|t=skin]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Etymonline and Barnhart trace it to [[ine-pro|*pel-|t=skin, hide]], the source also of Greek [[m|grc|πέλμα|tr=pélma|t=sole of the foot]] and Latin [[m|la|pellis|t=skin]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[fell]], “hide”, and [[pelt]].^(Klein 1966)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A membrane, animal or vegetable: Old English ''filmen'', about 1000;^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) Middle English ''vilm'' is recorded before 1400.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A thin coating of something is from 1577^(OED 1989) or the 1570s,^(Etymonline) and a very thin layer of any material from 1653.^(OED 1989) A morbid growth on the eye is from 1601.^(OED 1989) In photography the word was extended by 1845 to the coating of chemical gel on photographic plates,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and by 1895 to the coating with its paper or celluloid backing.^(Etymonline) From this came “a motion picture” in 1905,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and filmmaking as an art in 1920.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The AHD notes that the OED fascicle for ''film'', published in 1896, did not yet have the sense “motion picture”.^(AHD 2000) The verb meant “to cover with a film” from 1602,^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) and “to make a movie of” from 1899.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – Old English ''filmen'', a membrane.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1577 – a thin coating.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1601 – a growth on the eye.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1602 – verb, to cover with a film.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1845 – photographic film.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1899 – verb, to make a movie of.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1905 – a motion picture.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1920 – film as an art form.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A thin skin, [[membrane]] or coating.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A thin, flexible, transparent sheet, as of plastic for wrapping.^(AHD)

+ # A thin strip coated with a light-sensitive [[emulsion]], used in photography.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A motion picture; films, or the film industry, collectively.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To cover, or become covered, with a film.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To make a film of; to shoot scenes for a film.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[filmless]]

+ * [[filmable]]

+ * [[filmlike]]

+ * [[refilm]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[filmy]]

+ * [[fell]]

+ * [[pelt]]

+ * [[pellicle]]

+ * [[microfilm]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}