token English · revision 39387

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Old English, Beowulf|origins=gem-pro *taikną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /ˈtəʊkən/^(Wiktionary)

+ * US: /ˈtoʊkən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|token]], [[inh|ang|tācen|t=sign, symbol, evidence]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024) from [[gem-pro|*taikną|t=sign]],^(Etymonline)^(Ayto 2005)^(Kroonen 2013) related to the verb [[m|ang|tǣcan|t=to show, teach]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) It is cognate with [[ofs|tēken]], [[osx|tēkan]], [[nl|teken]], [[goh|zeihhan]], [[de|Zeichen]] and [[non|teikn|t=sign of the zodiac, omen, token]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)^(Etymonline) Klein and the AHD trace it to [[ine-pro|*deyḱ-|t=to show]],^(Klein 1966)^(AHD 2024)^(Wiktionary) the root of [[grc|δείκνυμι|tr=deíknumi|t=to show]];^(MWU 2024) Skeat found this connection not wholly satisfactory.^(Skeat 1911)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A sign or symbol of something, in the Old English translation of Bede;^(OED 2026) also proof or evidence, in Beowulf, which Barnhart dates to about 725.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old English ''tācen'' also meant a sign of the zodiac, a standard, an omen and, in biblical use, a miracle.^(OED 2026) Weekley notes that the borrowed word ''sign'' took over much of its ground, and that the phrase ''by the same token'' was very common in the 15th century.^(Weekley 1921) In 1377, in Piers Plowman, it is a sign that authenticates a person or a message.^(OED 2026) The sense of a stamped piece of metal dates from the 16th century;^(Hoad 1986) from 1534 it named the metal piece given to show that a person was fit to receive communion.^(HTOED) In the 17th and 18th centuries, when small coins were scarce, tradesmen issued their own coin-like pieces, called tokens because they stood for real money,^(Cresswell 2021) and the use for a voucher, as in ''book token'', is from the early 20th century.^(Cresswell 2021) The adjective "nominal, done only for the look of it" is recorded in 1915,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) and its use for a person included only to deflect criticism of discrimination by 1960.^(Etymonline) Philosophers of signs have used it since 1908 for an individual instance of a sign, as opposed to its type.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Old English – ''tācen'', sign, symbol, evidence.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1250 – Middle English ''token'' (Genesis and Exodus).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1377 – a sign that authenticates a person or message.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1534 – a metal piece admitting a person to communion.^(HTOED)

+ * 16th century – a stamped piece of metal.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1908 – an individual instance of a sign (semiotics).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1915 – adjective, nominal.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+ * by 1960 – of a person included only for appearance's sake.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something that serves as a sign or [[symbol]] of something else: ''a token of thanks''.^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something that proves [[authority]], identity or authenticity.^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A metal or plastic disc used instead of money, as in a [[slot machine]].^(Collins 2023)

+ # A [[voucher]] that can be exchanged for goods of a stated value.^(Collins 2023)^(Cresswell 2021)

+ # A [[keepsake]].^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(linguistics)'' An individual occurrence of a word or symbol, as opposed to its type.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # A person included in a group only to deflect accusations of [[discrimination]].^(AHD 2024)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Done or given only as a gesture; [[nominal]], minimal: ''a token rise in pay''.^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(archaic)'' To [[betoken]] or signify.^(AHD 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[foretoken]]

+ * [[tokenism]]

+ * [[betoken]]

+ * [[token money]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[teach]]

+ * [[diction]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Scots and northern English dialect, ''token'' is pronounced and spelled ''taiken'' or ''takin'', and ''by the same token'' and ''more by token'' were used to add proof or emphasis.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}