shape English · revision 3715

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1000|origins=gem-pro *skapjaną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ʃeɪp/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is [[inh|enm|shapen]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) a new present-tense form built on [[inh|ang|scapen]], past participle of [[m|ang|sceppan|t=to create, form, destine]] or scieppan,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*skapjaną|t=to create, ordain]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) which is also the source of Old Frisian skeppa, Old Saxon skeppian, Dutch scheppen, Old High German scepfen (German schaffen) and Old Norse skapa.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is from [[ine-pro|*(s)kep-|t=to cut, scrape, hack]], which in Germanic took on the sense “to create”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The noun is from Old English gesceap “external form; creation; destiny”.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[scoop]] and to the suffix [[-ship]].^(Cresswell 2021)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To create, said of God or Nature: before 1000 in the OED.^(OED 1989) The noun, external form or contour, is from about 1050,^(OED 1989) and in Old English it also meant a created being, condition, sex and genitalia.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old English sceppan survived into Middle English as a strong verb, shippen, but from the 16th century shape has been a regular verb with past tense shaped;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) the old participle survives in [[misshapen]].^(Hoad 1986) The contours of the body are from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and “definite, regular form” from the 1630s, hence ''out of shape'' (1690s).^(Etymonline) “Condition, state”, as in the phrase ''in good shape'', is American English by 1865.^(Etymonline) ''Lick into shape'' goes back to the medieval belief that bear cubs were born as formless lumps and licked into shape by their mothers;^(Cresswell 2021) the current use dates from the early 17th century.^(Cresswell 2021) ''Shape up'' meant “progress” from 1865 and “reform oneself” by 1938,^(Etymonline) and ''shape up or ship out'' is from 1951, said to be Korean War military slang.^(Etymonline) The ''shape-shifter'' is from 1820.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1000 – to create.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1050 – noun, external form.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – figure of the body.^(Etymonline)

+ * 16th century – regular past tense ''shaped''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1630s – proper form.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1690s – ''out of shape''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1820 – ''shape-shifter''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1865 – condition, state.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1951 – ''shape up or ship out''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The outline or [[contour]] of something.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The form of a person's body; the [[figure]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A definite form or pattern: ''to take shape''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Condition, especially physical fitness: ''in good shape''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A vague form, as of a ghost.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give a particular form to; to [[mould]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To plan or direct the course of: ''to shape policy''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To take form; to develop: ''things are shaping up''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[shapable]]

+ * [[shaped]]

+ * [[shaper]]

+ * [[shapeless]]

+ * [[handshape]]

+ * [[transshape]]

+ * [[waveshape]]

+ * [[shapely]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[misshapen]]

+ * [[scoop]]

+ * [[landscape]]

+ * [[-ship]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ SHAPE (1950) was the NATO headquarters in Europe.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}