air English · revision 3629

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1200 (Ancrene Riwle)|origins=grc ἀήρ}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /eə/, US /er/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Barnhart and Hoad describe ''air'' as a combination of three senses of different origin.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) The main one, the gas, is [[inh|enm|air]] (also [[m|enm|eir]]),^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) [[bor|fro|air|t=atmosphere, breeze, weather]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|āēr|t=air, lower atmosphere]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[grc|ἀήρ|tr=āḗr|t=mist, haze; air]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) which is of unknown origin.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline mentions a possible link with [[m|grc|ἀείρω|alt=ἀείρειν|tr=aeírein|t=to raise]], as “that which rises”, but notes that the sounds do not fit well;^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster thinks it probably akin to [[m|grc|ἀήτης|tr=aḗtēs|t=wind, gale]].^(MWU 2024) The sense “manner, appearance” is from French [[m|fr|air]], which probably goes back to [[fro|aire|t=place, site, disposition]], from Latin [[m|la|ager|t=field]] influenced by [[m|la|ārea|t=open space]].^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986)^(AHD 2000) The sense “melody” is from Italian [[m|it|aria]], itself from Latin ''āēr''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986) It is related to [[aria]], [[aerial]], [[aero-]] and [[malaria]],^(Klein 1966) and through the second strand to [[debonair]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The invisible gas around the earth: probably before 1200 in the ''Ancrene Riwle'',^(Barnhart 1988) or about 1300 according to Etymonline.^(Etymonline) In Homer the Greek word mostly meant thick air or mist.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Air'' replaced the native word [[m|ang|lyft]], which survives in ''loft''.^(Etymonline) In older chemistry any gas could be called an ''air''.^(Etymonline) The sense “manner, appearance”, as in ''an air of mystery'', appears in Shakespeare's ''1 Henry IV'' (1596),^(Barnhart 1988) and “an assumed manner” from the 1650s, with ''put on airs'' in 1781.^(Etymonline) The musical sense, “melody, tune”, is in Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' (1590).^(Barnhart 1988) The verb, “to expose to the open air”, dates from the 1520s^(Etymonline) or 1530,^(MW Collegiate)^(HTOED) and “to make public” from the 1610s, of opinions or grievances from 1862.^(Etymonline) ''Castles in the air'' is from the 1590s, ''up in the air'' from 1752 and ''in the air'' from 1875.^(Etymonline) The broadcasting sense, as in ''on the air'', is from 1927, and the verb “to broadcast” from 1933.^(Etymonline) ''Air pollution'' is recorded by 1870 and ''air guitar'' by 1983.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1200 – the atmosphere (''Ancrene Riwle'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1520s – verb, to expose to the air.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590 – a melody (''A Midsummer Night's Dream'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1590s – ''castles in the air''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1596 – manner, appearance (''1 Henry IV'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1650s – an affected manner.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1752 – ''up in the air''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1781 – ''put on airs''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1927 – ''on the air''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1933 – verb, to broadcast.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The colourless, odourless mixture of gases, mainly [[nitrogen]] and [[oxygen]], that surrounds the earth.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # The [[atmosphere]] or sky; space above the ground.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # [[aviation|alt=Aviation]] or travel by aircraft: ''by air''.^(AHD)

+ # The medium of radio and television broadcasting: ''on the air''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A distinctive quality or appearance; [[manner]]: ''an air of mystery''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(plural)'' An affected, [[haughty]] manner: ''put on airs''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(music)'' A [[melody]] or tune.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To expose to the air; to [[ventilate]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To make known publicly: ''air a grievance''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To [[broadcast]] on radio or television.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[airless]]

+ * [[airlessness]]

+ * [[airlike]]

+ * [[airing]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[aerate]]

+ * [[aero-]]

+ * [[aria]]

+ * [[aerial]]

+ * [[malaria]]

+ * [[debonair]]

+ * [[aura]]

+ * [[loft]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Two minor words have the same spelling: a Scots adverb ''air'', “formerly, early”, related to ''ere'', and ''air'', “a gravelly beach, a sandbank”, from Old Norse ''eyrr'', recorded from the early 18th century.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}