harry English · revision 3773

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 893|origins=gem-pro *harjaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈhær.i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|herien]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[inh|ang|hergian|t=to make war, lay waste, plunder]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*harjōną]],^(Etymonline) which is also the source of Old Frisian urheria “to lay waste”, Old Saxon and Old High German heriōn, German verheeren “to devastate” and Old Norse herja “to plunder”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It means literally “to overrun with an army”, from [[gem-pro|*harjaz|t=an armed force]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) the source of Old English here, German Heer and Gothic harjis “army”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*koryo-|t=war, war-band, army]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the root also of Lithuanian kãrias “army” and Greek koíranos “ruler, commander”.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) It was probably influenced by Old French harier, with the same sense.^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) It is related to [[harbour]], [[herald]] and [[heriot]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To make predatory raids: about 893 in the OED^(OED 1989) and Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) the word used in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for what the Vikings did to England.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To overrun a territory with an army is from about 1205,^(OED 1989) and Christ's despoiling of hell after his death, the [[harrowing of hell]], from about 1200.^(OED 1989) To harass people with attacks or exactions is from before 1300,^(OED 1989) or the 13th century in Hoad,^(Hoad 1986) and the weakened sense “to worry, goad, harass” from about 1400.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In modern Scots it is the usual word for robbing birds' nests, from 1637–50.^(OED 1989) The noun, the act of harrying, is from about 1330.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 893 – to raid.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – the harrowing of hell.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1205 – to lay waste with an army.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1300 – to harass people.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1330 – noun, harrying.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – to worry, torment.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1637–50 – to rob birds' nests.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To trouble with repeated attacks or demands; to [[harass]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To raid or [[pillage]], as in war.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[harrier]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[harrow]]

+ * [[harass]]

+ * [[harbinger]]

+ * [[herald]]

+ * [[heriot]]

+ * [[Harry]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Harry is also a familiar form of the name Henry;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Weekley took the large number of Harris and Harrison surnames as evidence that Harry was the Middle English pronunciation of Henry.^(Etymonline) ''Old Harry'' is a name for the Devil, from 1777.^(OED 1989) In Scots and Yorkshire dialect a ''harry'' was a harrow.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}