sugar English · revision 3941

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1289|origins=sa शर्करा}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈʃʊɡ.ə/, US /ˈʃʊɡ.ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|sucre]], later sugre,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|fro|sucre]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from Italian zucchero^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) and Medieval Latin succarum,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ar|سُكَّر|tr=sukkar]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from Persian shakar,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) ultimately from [[sa|शर्करा|tr=śárkarā|t=ground or candied sugar; gravel, grit]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) cognate with Greek krokē “pebble”.^(Etymonline) The Arabic word with the article gave Spanish azúcar,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and its forms are found in most European languages, such as German Zucker and Polish cukier.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The reason for the g in the English word is obscure.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[saccharine]], [[sucrose]] and [[candy]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A sweet crystalline substance from plant juices: the late 13th century in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) the OED's earliest forms are from 1289–90.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its Old World home was India, and it remained exotic in Europe until the Arabs grew it in Sicily and Spain;^(Etymonline) only after the Crusades did it begin to rival honey as a sweetener.^(Etymonline) The Spaniards were raising sugar cane in the West Indies by 1506.^(Etymonline) The shift from s- to sh- is probably from the initial long vowel syu-, as in sure.^(Etymonline) As a general name for a class of chemical compounds it is from 1826.^(Etymonline) The verb, “to sweeten with sugar”, is from the early 15th century, also figuratively, “to make more pleasing”.^(Etymonline) Its slang use as a euphemism for an oath is attested by 1891,^(Etymonline) and as a term of endearment by 1930.^(Etymonline) ''Sugar-tongs'' are from 1708 and the ''sugar maple'' from 1731.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1289–90 – the sweet substance.^(OED 1989)

+ * early 15th century – verb, to sweeten.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1506 – sugar cane in the West Indies.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1708 – ''sugar-tongs''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1826 – a class of chemical compounds.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1891 – a mild oath.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1930 – a term of endearment.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A sweet crystalline substance, chiefly [[sucrose]] from sugar cane or sugar beet.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Any of a class of sweet, water-soluble [[carbohydrate|alt=carbohydrates]], such as glucose and fructose.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A lump or spoonful of sugar.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(informal)'' Sweetheart; darling.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To coat, cover or sweeten with sugar.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To make less unpleasant or more appealing: ''sugar the pill''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # ''(informal)'' A mild oath expressing annoyance.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sugarer]]

+ * [[sugarless]]

+ * [[sugarlike]]

+ * [[sugared]]

+ * [[sugar off]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[saccharine]]

+ * [[sucrose]]

+ * [[candy]]

+ * [[sugary]]

+ * [[jaggery]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}