climate English · revision 3846

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1375|origins=grc κλίνω}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈklaɪ.mət/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|climat]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|climat|t=region, part of the earth]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la-lat|clima|t=region; slope of the earth]] (genitive climatis),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[grc|κλίμα|tr=klíma|t=inclination, slope; region, zone]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|grc|κλίνω|tr=klínō|t=to incline, slope]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) from [[ine-pro|*klei-|t=to lean]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[clime]], [[climax]], [[incline]] and [[lean]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A belt of the earth's surface between two parallels of latitude: 1375, in the Scottish form climat, in Barbour's ''Bruce''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The ancient geographers divided the earth into zones by the angle of the sun on the slope of its surface and the length of daylight,^(Etymonline)^(Trench 1859) reckoning 7, 12, 24 or 30 climates;^(Etymonline) Chaucer and Mandeville use the word in this sense.^(Trench 1859) As changes of temperature came to seem more important, by the late 14th century the word meant a region considered with respect to its weather,^(Etymonline) 1398 in the OED.^(OED 1989) The current sense, the prevailing weather of a region, is from 1611, in Shakespeare's ''Winter's Tale'',^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) or about 1600 in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) The figurative sense, the moral or intellectual atmosphere of a time or place, is from 1661.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) [[climatic]] is from the 19th century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1375 – a zone of latitude.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1398 – a region with its weather.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1477 – a region.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1611 – prevailing weather.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1661 – figurative atmosphere.^(OED 1989)

+ * 19th century – ''climatic''.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The usual weather conditions of a region, such as [[temperature]], rainfall and wind, over a long period.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A region with particular weather conditions.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The prevailing attitudes or conditions of a time or place: ''the political climate''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[acclimate]]

+ * [[acclimatise]]

+ * [[acclimatize]]

+ * [[climatize]]

+ * [[macroclimate]]

+ * [[subclimate]]

+ * [[climatology]]

+ * [[microclimate]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[client]]

+ * [[climatic]]

+ * [[climax]]

+ * [[cline]]

+ * [[lean]]

+ * [[clime]]

+ * [[incline]]

+ * [[clinic]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}