promenade English · revision 382

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpɹɒm.əˌnɑːd/, /ˌpɹɒm.əˈnɑːd/ ''(UK)''; /ˌpɹɑm.əˈneɪd/, /ˌpɹɑm.əˈnɑd/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|promenade]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) from ''se promener'' “to go for a walk”, from ''promener'' “to take for a walk”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) an alteration of Old French ''pourmener'', from ''pour-'' and ''mener'' “to lead”,^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) [[der|la-lat|prōmināre|t=to drive (animals) onward]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''prō'' “forth” and ''mināre'' “to drive with shouts”, from ''minārī'' “to threaten”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The ending ''-ade'' imitates words of Italian or Spanish origin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A walk taken at a leisurely pace for exercise, amusement or display (1567).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By 1648 the word meant a place for walking,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) and from the late 18th century especially a paved walk along the sea front.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In 1860s London it named the gallery of a music hall frequented by ''demi-mondaines''.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) In the United States a ''promenade'' was a school or college dance (1887).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) It also names the march of guests opening a formal ball and a figure in square dancing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) The verb, to take a promenade, dates from 1588.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1567 – a leisurely walk.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1588 – verb, to promenade.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1648 – a place for walking.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1863 – a music-hall gallery.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1887 – a school dance (US).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A leisurely walk, especially one taken in a public place for pleasure or display.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A public place for such walking, especially a paved walk by the sea; an [[esplanade]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A formal dance; a [[ball]] or [[prom]].^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A march of all the guests at the opening of a formal ball.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # A square-dance figure in which couples march round in a circle.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To go on a leisurely walk, especially for pleasure or display.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To perform a promenade at a ball or in square dancing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To walk about in or through a place; or to take or display a person as if on a promenade.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[promenader]]

+ * [[promenade deck]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prom]]

+ * [[menace]]

+ * [[amenable]]

+ * [[demeanor]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}