plan English · revision 3653

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=1635|origins=la plānum, la planta}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /plæn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|plan|t=ground plan, map; plane surface]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) Hoad, the Shorter Oxford and the American Heritage Dictionary explain the French word as an alteration of [[m|fr|plant|t=ground plan]], from [[m|fr|planter|t=to plant, fix in place]], influenced by [[m|fr|plan|t=flat]],^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)^(AHD 2000) with the sense of Italian [[m|it|pianta|t=plan of a building]].^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986) Barnhart and Etymonline derive it from Latin [[m|la|plānum|t=level surface]], from [[m|la|plānus|t=level, flat]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and Klein and Merriam-Webster see a blend of the two.^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024) Etymonline calls it a [[doublet]] of [[plain]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[plane]] and [[plant]].^(Klein 1966)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An organized plan or proposal: 1635 according to Merriam-Webster and the HTOED.^(MWU 2024)^(HTOED) Etymonline dates the word to the 1670s, as a technical term in perspective drawing,^(Etymonline) and Barnhart to 1678, in Phillips' dictionary, for a plane at right angles to the line of sight.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A plan of a building is recorded from 1664.^(HTOED) The sense “a drawing of anything on a flat surface” and the general sense “a scheme of action” are both found in Kersey's edition of Phillips' dictionary in 1706,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) though Etymonline dates the latter to 1713.^(Etymonline) The verb appears in Pope's ''Dunciad'' (1728), “to make a plan of”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and “to scheme, devise” by 1737.^(Etymonline) ''Planned economy'' is from 1931.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1635 – a plan, a proposal.^(MWU 2024)^(HTOED)

+ * 1664 – a plan of a building.^(HTOED)

+ * 1670s – in perspective drawing.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1706 – a drawing; a scheme of action (Kersey).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1728 – verb (Pope's ''Dunciad'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1931 – ''planned economy''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A scheme or method worked out beforehand to achieve an aim.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # An intended project or course of action.^(AHD)

+ # An orderly arrangement of parts; an outline.^(AHD)

+ # A drawing or diagram made to scale, showing the layout of a building or area.^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+ # ''(perspective drawing)'' A plane at right angles to the line of sight.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To work out a scheme for; to arrange beforehand.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To intend: ''we plan to leave early''.^(AHD)

+ # To draw a plan of.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[planner]]

+ * [[planless]]

+ * [[planlessly]]

+ * [[planlessness]]

+ * [[counterplan]]

+ * [[misplan]]

+ * [[planform]]

+ * [[planify]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[plane]]

+ * [[plain]]

+ * [[plant]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary groups ''plan'' with ''blueprint'', ''design'', ''project'', ''scheme'' and ''strategy'', all meaning a programme for getting something done.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}