series English · revision 3617

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1594 (HTOED)|origins=ine-pro *ser-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈsɪə.riːz/, US /ˈsɪr.iːz/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|seriēs|t=row, chain, sequence, succession]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(SOED 2002) from [[m|la|serere|t=to join, link, bind together]],^(Etymonline)^(COED 2004)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*ser-|t=to line up]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) Merriam-Webster relates it to Greek [[m|grc|εἴρω|alt=εἴρειν|tr=eírein|t=to string together]] and [[m|grc|ὅρμος|tr=hórmos|t=chain, necklace]].^(MWU 2024)^(MW Collegiate) Middle English had borrowed the word earlier as [[m|enm|serie|t=sequence of thoughts]], in the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A number of things of one kind following one another in order: 1594 according to the HTOED,^(HTOED) 1610s according to Etymonline^(Etymonline) and 1611 according to Merriam-Webster.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A set of books published one after another with something in common has been a ''series'' since 1711.^(Etymonline) The baseball sense, a set of games between the same teams, is from 1862,^(Etymonline) and a set of radio or television programmes with the same characters from 1949.^(Etymonline) From 1596 to 1844 the word could also mean the thread of a narrative.^(HTOED) The plural is the same as the singular, though the Shorter Oxford records an old plural ''serieses''.^(SOED 2002) ''Seriatim'' is from the 17th century and ''serial'' from the 19th, first of a story published in parts.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1594 – a succession.^(HTOED)

+ * 1610s – a set of things in order.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1711 – a set of books.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1862 – a set of baseball games.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1949 – a series of broadcasts.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A number of similar things or events coming one after another; a [[succession]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A set of related books, stamps, coins or the like.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A set of radio or television programmes with the same characters or theme.^(Etymonline)

+ # A set of games between the same teams.^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(mathematics)'' The sum of a [[sequence]] of terms.^(AHD)

+ # ''(geology)'' A group of rock formations closely related in time of origin.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[miniseries]]

+ * [[subseries]]

+ * [[superseries]]

+ * [[series-wound]]

+ * [[actinium series]]

+ * [[decay series]]

+ * [[alternating series]]

+ * [[binomial series]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[serial]]

+ * [[seriate]]

+ * [[seriation]]

+ * [[seriatim]]

+ * [[sequence]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary notes that ''series'' is both singular and plural: ''a series of lectures is scheduled'', but ''two series of lectures are scheduled''.^(AHD) It contrasts ''series'' with ''succession'', ''progression'', ''sequence'', ''chain'', ''train'' and ''string''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}