cultural English · revision 3577

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1813|origins=la colō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkʌl.tʃᵊr.ᵊl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a derivation, [[af|en|culture|-al]],^(MWU 2024) or formed from [[la|cultūra|t=tillage, cultivation; care]] and [[-al]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002) from the past participle stem of [[m|la|colere|t=to tend, till, cultivate]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Relating to the raising of plants or animals: 1813 in Etymonline^(Etymonline) and 1868 in the OED.^(OED 1989) Merriam-Webster dates the word 1856.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The senses “relating to the cultivation of the mind” and “relating to a civilization” are from 1875,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and “relating to the culture of a particular place and time” by 1909.^(Etymonline) The biological sense, relating to the culture of micro-organisms, is from 1900.^(OED 1989) The word has been a fertile starter among anthropologists and sociologists: ''cultural anthropology'' by 1910, ''cultural diffusion'' by 1912, ''cultural pluralism'' by 1932, ''cultural diversity'' by 1935 and ''cultural relativism'' by 1948.^(Etymonline) China's ''Cultural Revolution'' began in 1965.^(Etymonline) A ''cultural attaché'' is an embassy official who promotes his or her country's culture.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1813 – relating to cultivation of plants.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1875 – relating to the mind; to a civilization.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1900 – in biology.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1910 – ''cultural anthropology''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1935 – ''cultural diversity''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1965 – the ''Cultural Revolution''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relating to the ideas, customs and social behaviour of a society.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Relating to the arts and intellectual achievement.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Relating to the cultivation of plants or the growing of [[bacteria]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[culturally]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[culture]]

+ * [[cultivate]]

+ * [[cult]]

+ * [[agriculture]]

+ * [[colony]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}