arena English · revision 363

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈɹiːnə/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|harēna|t=sand, sandy place]] (also spelled ''arēna''),^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) a word of uncertain origin, perhaps Etruscan.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The central space of a Roman amphitheatre where combats and shows were held (early 17th century).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The floor of the Roman amphitheatre was strewn with sand to soak up the blood of the combatants, and so the word for sand came to mean the place of combat.^(AHD)^(Etymonline) The figurative sense “a scene of contest” appears by 1814,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and “any sphere of public activity” in 1798.^(OED 1989) Today it most often names a large building for sports and entertainment.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1600 – earliest date given by Merriam-Webster and Barnhart.^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1627 – the central area of an amphitheatre.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1798 – a sphere of public action.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1814 – a scene or sphere of conflict.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1944 – attributive, of a style of theatre with the stage surrounded by the audience.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A large building or enclosed area for sports events and other spectacles.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A field of conflict or activity.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The central area of a Roman amphitheatre, used for combats and shows.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}