almond English · revision 392

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɑː.mənd/ ''(UK)''; /ˈɑ(l).mənd/, /ˈæ(l).mənd/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|almande]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) [[bor|fro|almande]], ''alemande'', ''amande'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) [[der|la-lat|amandula]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) an alteration of [[la|amygdala]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) [[der|grc|ἀμυγδάλη|tr=amugdálē]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) a word of unknown origin, perhaps Semitic.^(Etymonline) The Latin form was altered in Medieval Latin under the influence of ''amandus'' “lovable”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The initial ''al-'' probably arose through association with Spanish ''almendra'' and the many Romance words beginning with the Arabic article ''al-''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Late Old English had ''amygdales'' “almonds”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The kernel of the fruit of the almond tree (before 1300 in the OED; probably about 1300 in Barnhart; c. 1300 in Etymonline).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The tree itself is called ''almond'' from 1697,^(OED 1989) and an almond comfit from 1855.^(OED 1989) The word was applied to anything of the almond's oval shape,^(OED 1989)^(AHD) and from 1870 to eyes of that shape.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) It also names a pale tan colour.^(AHD)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – the almond kernel.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1697 – the almond tree.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1853 – an oval with pointed ends.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1870 – almond-shaped eyes.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The oval kernel of the fruit of the almond tree, eaten as a [[nut]] or pressed for its oil.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The tree that bears it, ''Prunus dulcis'', native to Asia and North Africa, related to the [[peach]], with pink flowers.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Any of several other plants with almond-like seeds.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Something having the oval shape of an almond.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A pale tan colour.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of the colour, taste or shape of an almond; made or flavoured with almonds.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[almondlike]]

+ * [[almond-eyed]]

+ * [[almond-shaped]]

+ * [[almond milk]]

+ * [[almond oil]]

+ * [[bitter almond]]

+ * [[Jordan almond]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[amygdala]]

+ * [[marzipan]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}