society English · revision 3586

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1531 (Elyot)|origins=la societās}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /səˈsaɪ.ə.ti/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|societé]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate) from [[fro|societe|t=company]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) and probably also directly from [[la|societās|t=fellowship, association, alliance]],^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|socius|t=companion, ally]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) the source of [[social]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) Etymonline traces ''socius'' to [[ine-pro|*sekw-|t=to follow]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Companionship, friendly association with others: 1531, in Elyot's ''Boke Named the Governour''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ An association of people for a common purpose, a club, is recorded before 1548,^(Barnhart 1988) or from the 1540s.^(Etymonline)^(HTOED) The state of living together in a community, with its customs and organization, is from 1533,^(HTOED) and the aggregate of people living in an ordered community from the 1630s^(Etymonline) or 1639.^(OED 1989) The sense “the more cultivated or fashionable part of a community” is by 1823.^(Etymonline) The adjective use, as in ''society wedding'', is from 1693 in Merriam-Webster.^(MW Collegiate) The Society Islands were named in 1769 by Cook in honour of the Royal Society, which financed his voyage.^(Etymonline) In Scotland, the ''Society people'' were the Cameronians.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1531 – companionship (Elyot).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1533 – life in an organized community.^(HTOED)

+ * before 1548 – an association, club.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1639 – the people of a community.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1769 – the Society Islands named.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1823 – fashionable society.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The totality of social relationships among human beings; people living together as a [[community]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A group of people distinguished by shared institutions and a common [[culture]].^(AHD)

+ # An organization of people with a common interest or purpose; an [[association]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # The rich and fashionable class of a community.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Companionship, company.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[societyless]]

+ * [[intersociety]]

+ * [[nonsociety]]

+ * [[subsociety]]

+ * [[undersociety]]

+ * [[societal]]

+ * [[tract society]]

+ * [[benefit society]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[social]]

+ * [[sociable]]

+ * [[associate]]

+ * [[sequel]]

+ * [[sect]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}