turn English · revision 3634

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1000 (Old English turnian)|origins=grc τόρνος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|turnen]], [[inh|ang|turnian]] (also [[m|ang|tyrnan]]), [[bor|la|tornāre|t=to turn on a lathe, round off]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[m|la|tornus|t=lathe]], from [[grc|τόρνος|tr=tórnos|t=lathe, tool for drawing circles]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) which Watkins traces to [[ine-pro|*terə-|t=to rub, turn]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) In Middle English it was reinforced by Old French [[m|fro|torner]], from the same Latin verb.^(COED 2004)^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988) The noun comes partly from Anglo-French [[m|xno|tourn]], Old French [[m|fro|torn]], and partly from the verb.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[tour]].^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To rotate, revolve: Old English ''turnian'', about 1000.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Hoad notes that the verb developed a great many senses from the two ideas of rotation and of turning aside from a course.^(Hoad 1986) “To change direction” and “to change into something else” are from the late 12th century, and of the tide, “to reverse”, from about 1300.^(Etymonline) Etymonline thinks many of the figurative senses grew from shaping wood on a lathe, recorded in English from the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline) The noun meant a rotation or a wrestling move in the 13th century, a good or bad deed from about 1300, one's time in a series from the early 14th century, and a bend in a road from the early 15th.^(Etymonline) A short performance on stage has been a ''turn'' since the early 18th century, from the idea of one's turn.^(Cresswell 2021) ''Turn over a new leaf'', a leaf of a book, is from the mid-16th century.^(Cresswell 2021) ''Turncoat'' is from 1557, ''turnkey'' from 1654, ''turnstile'' from before 1643, ''turnover'' as a tart from 1798 and as business done from 1879, and ''turntable'' from 1835.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Turnpike'' meant a spiked barrier about 1420 and a toll gate before 1678.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – Old English ''turnian''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 12th century – to change direction; to change into.^(Etymonline)

+ * 13th century – noun, a rotation.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1300 – a deed, as in ''a good turn''.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 14th century – one's turn in a series.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1420 – ''turnpike''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-16th century – ''turn over a new leaf''.^(Cresswell 2021)

+ * 1557 – ''turncoat''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 18th century – a stage act.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To move around an axis; to [[rotate]] or make rotate.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To change or make change direction or position.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To change or be changed into something else; to become: ''turn pale''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To operate by turning: ''turn the key''.^(AHD)

+ # To shape on a [[lathe]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To go through pages to reach a place.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An act of turning; a [[rotation]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A change of direction, or a place where a road bends.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A change in the course of events.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # An opportunity or duty coming in order: ''your turn''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A deed: ''a good turn''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A short stage performance.^(AHD)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[turnable]]

+ * [[counterturn]]

+ * [[about-turn]]

+ * [[ampere-turn]]

+ * [[downturn]]

+ * [[inturn]]

+ * [[outturn]]

+ * [[overturn]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[return]]

+ * [[turnabout]]

+ * [[turncoat]]

+ * [[turning]]

+ * [[turnout]]

+ * [[turnover]]

+ * [[turnpike]]

+ * [[turnstile]]

+ * [[turntable]]

+ * [[tour]]

+ * [[turner]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary calls ''turn'' the most general of ''turn'', ''rotate'', ''revolve'', ''spin'', ''whirl'' and ''circle'', all meaning to move in a circle.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}