current English · revision 3603

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la currere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈkʌr.ənt/, US /ˈkɝː.ənt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|curraunt|t=running, flowing]], [[bor|fro|corant|t=running, lively, swift]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) the present participle of [[m|fro|corre|t=to run]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|currere|t=to run]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) The spelling ''current'' appeared in 1555, by influence of the Latin participle [[m|la|currēns]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) Latin ''currere'' goes back to [[ine-pro|*kers-|t=to run]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(Barnhart 1988) the source also of Latin [[m|la|carrus|t=wagon]] and Greek [[m|grc|ἐπίκουρος|tr=epíkouros|t=running to aid, ally]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) It is related to [[course]], [[courier]], [[corridor]], [[occur]] and [[currency]].^(Klein 1966)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Running, flowing: about 1300^(Etymonline) or probably before 1300, in ''Kyng Alisaunder''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “presently in effect” appeared in the mid-15th century,^(Etymonline) first as a legal term recorded in 1438,^(Barnhart 1988) and money was ''current'', passing from hand to hand, from 1438^(HTOED) or the late 15th century.^(Etymonline) “Generally reported, prevalent” is from 1562,^(HTOED) “established by common consent” from the 1590s,^(Etymonline) and “now passing, in progress” from about 1600.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Barnhart suggests that these meanings grew out of the legal sense.^(Barnhart 1988) The noun “that which flows” is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) found before 1425 in Wycliffe's writings.^(Barnhart 1988) A portion of water or air moving in one direction is from the 1550s,^(Etymonline) and the flow of electricity from 1747, when electricity was thought of as a kind of fluid.^(Etymonline) ''Current affairs'' is recorded by 1776 and ''current events'' from 1795.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – running, flowing.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1425 – noun, a stream (Wycliffe).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1438 – presently in effect; of money, circulating.^(Barnhart 1988)^(HTOED)

+ * 1555 – the spelling ''current''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1550s – noun, a moving part of a body of water.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1562 – generally known, prevalent.^(HTOED)

+ * c. 1600 – now in progress.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1747 – electric current.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1776 – ''current affairs''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Belonging to the present time; in progress now.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Passing from one person to another; circulating, as money.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # [[prevalent|alt=Prevalent]] or generally accepted, especially at present.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Running; flowing.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A steady onward movement.^(AHD)

+ # A part of a body of water or air moving continuously in one direction.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A general [[tendency]] or course of events or opinions.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A flow of [[electric charge]], or its rate of flow.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[currently]]

+ * [[currentness]]

+ * [[undercurrent]]

+ * [[countercurrent]]

+ * [[crosscurrent]]

+ * [[intercurrent]]

+ * [[overcurrent]]

+ * [[photocurrent]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[currency]]

+ * [[course]]

+ * [[courier]]

+ * [[corridor]]

+ * [[occur]]

+ * [[recur]]

+ * [[cursor]]

+ * [[cursory]]

+ * [[excursion]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}