further English · revision 3640

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000 (Old English furþor)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈfɜː.ðə/, US /ˈfɝː.ðɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|further]], [[inh|ang|furþor|t=forward, onward; farther; moreover]] (also [[m|ang|forþor]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) a comparative formed on the base of [[forth]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) Etymonline explains it as either “forth-er” or “fore-ther”, and Watkins traces it to [[gem-pro|*furthera-]], from [[ine-pro|*pr-tero-]], a comparative of the root meaning “forward”,^(Etymonline) related to [[grc|πρότερος|tr=próteros|t=former]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) Old English also had the adjective [[m|ang|furþra]] and the verb [[m|ang|fyrþrian|t=to advance, promote]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Its relatives include [[de|fördern|t=to promote]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) and English [[farther]] and [[afford]].^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To a more advanced point, forward: Old English ''furþor'', about 1000.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Further'' replaced the comparative ''farrer'' of ''far'', which lasted into the 17th century before giving way to its rival ''farther'';^(Etymonline) the OED notes that the basic sense of both ''further'' and ''farther'' is “more forward”.^(Etymonline) The sense “in addition” is from the 12th century, and ''furthermore'' probably from about 1200, in the ''Ormulum''.^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988) The adjective appears in 1155 as ''furthur'',^(Barnhart 1988) and in early Middle English it could mean “earlier, former”, so that a great-grandfather was a ''furþur ealdefader''.^(Etymonline) The verb, “to help forward”, continues Old English ''fyrþrian'',^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and ''furtherance'' is from about 1435.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 12th century – in addition.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1155 – adjective, ''furthur''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – ''furthermore'' (''Ormulum'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1435 – ''furtherance''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # To a greater extent; more.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # In addition; [[furthermore]].^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986)

+ # At or to a more distant or advanced point.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # More distant in space, time or degree.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Additional: ''further details''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To help the progress of; to [[advance]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[furtherer]]

+ * [[furtherance]]

+ * [[furthermost]]

+ * [[furthermore]]

+ * [[further education]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[farther]]

+ * [[forth]]

+ * [[furthest]]

+ * [[afford]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}