mention English · revision 3763

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=ine-pro *men-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmen.ʃᵊn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|mencioun]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|mencion|t=mention, memory, speech]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|mentiō|t=a calling to mind, a speaking of]] (accusative mentiōnem),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from the root of Old Latin [[m|la|miniscī|t=to think]], related to [[m|la|mēns|t=mind]] (genitive mentis),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*men-|t=to think]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[mind]], [[mental]] and [[comment]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Bearing in mind, consideration: about 1300, now obsolete.^(OED 1989) Etymonline dates the noun to about 1300 as a note, reference or calling to mind by speech or writing,^(Etymonline) and the OED's “commemorating by speech or writing” is from 1303.^(OED 1989) The early use was in the phrase ''make mention of''.^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A statement about a person or thing is from the late 15th century, and by the mid-18th century it had weakened to an incidental or casual reference,^(Etymonline) though in the army a mention in dispatches, from 1915 in the OED, remained an important distinction.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Honourable mention'' is from 1892.^(OED 1989) The verb, “to speak of briefly”, is from 1530, in Palsgrave,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) from the noun or from French mentionner.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) ''Not to mention'' as a rhetorical device is from the 1690s, and ''don't mention it'' as a reply to thanks or apology from 1840.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – consideration; a calling to mind.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * late 15th century – a statement.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1530 – verb.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-18th century – a casual reference.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1690s – ''not to mention''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1840 – ''don't mention it''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1892 – ''honourable mention''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To refer to briefly or incidentally.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To name, especially as worthy of credit.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A brief or casual [[reference]]; an [[allusion]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A formal citation for merit: ''an honourable mention''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mentionable]]

+ * [[mentioner]]

+ * [[remention]]

+ * [[intermention]]

+ * [[honorable mention]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mind]]

+ * [[mental]]

+ * [[comment]]

+ * [[memento]]

+ * [[mentor]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Shetland dialect a ''mention'' was a trifle or little bit.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}