aplomb English · revision 362

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈplɒm/, /əˈplʌm/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|aplomb|t=self-possession, perpendicularity]],^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|frm|à plomb|t=according to the plummet]], that is, standing upright.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Barnhart 1995) [[fr|plomb|t=lead weight]] is [[der|la|plumbum|t=lead]], the metal of which the weight on a plumb line was made.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Self-possession, assurance (1828).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The image is of someone standing perfectly straight, like a plumb line.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) English took over the figurative sense of poise first;^(OED 1989) the literal sense “perpendicularity” is recorded later, in 1872.^(OED 1989) Merriam-Webster dates the word to 1823.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1823 – first date given by Merriam-Webster.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1828 – assurance, self-possession.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1872 – the perpendicular, perpendicularity.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Calm self-confidence; poise.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The vertical position.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[plumb]]

+ * [[plumber]]

+ * [[plummet]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}