anywhere English · revision 3810

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 1300|origins=en any where}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈen.i.weə/, US /ˈen.i.wer/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|anywhere]], a compound [[af|en|any|where]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) at first written separately.^(SOED 2002) Earlier words in this sense were owhere, oughwhere and aywhere, literally “aught where”.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[nowhere]], [[somewhere]] and [[everywhere]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In any place: about 1300 in the OED;^(OED 1989) Etymonline dates the adverb “in, at, or to any place” to the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The use that sets the limits of a range, ''anywhere from 40 to 60'', is first recorded in 1897, as an American use.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) Merriam-Webster also gives the sense “to any extent, at all”, as in ''not anywhere near finished''.^(MW Collegiate) The noun, “any place”, is dated to 1924 by Merriam-Webster.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – in any place.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – the adverb in Etymonline's dating.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1897 – ''anywhere from'' … ''to''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1924 – noun, any place.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In, at or to any [[place]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To any extent; at all.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Used to give the limits of a range: ''anywhere from 40 to 60 students''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Any place whatever.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[everywhere]]

+ * [[nowhere]]

+ * [[somewhere]]

+ * [[anybody]]

+ * [[anyone]]

+ * [[anything]]

+ * [[any]]

+ * [[where]]

+ * [[anyhow]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}