express English · revision 3946

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1380|origins=la exprimere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is [[inh|enm|expressen]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|expresser|t=to press, squeeze out; to speak one's mind]] and Medieval Latin expressāre,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) a frequentative of [[m|la|exprimere|t=to press out; represent, describe]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from ex- “out” and premere “to press”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) from [[ine-pro|*per-|t=to strike]].^(Etymonline) The adjective is from Old French expres and [[m|la|expressus|t=clearly presented, distinct]], the past participle of exprimere.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) The sense of the verb may have developed through clay or wax that takes the form of an image under pressure.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[press]], [[expression]] and [[espresso]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The adjective “stated explicitly, not implied” is from about 1380, in Chaucer's House of Fame;^(Barnhart 1988) the OED has about 1386.^(OED 1989) The verb “to represent, depict, put into words” is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) about 1384 in the Wycliffe Bible.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle English the verb also meant “to press out, extort”.^(NODE 1998)^(Hoad 1986) The adjective took the sense “intended for a particular purpose” before 1400,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) and as an adverb, “specially, on purpose”, it is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) A messenger or dispatch sent specially was an ''express'' from 1619,^(MW Collegiate) and the verb “to send by express” is from 1716, first American.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) An ''express train'' (1841) at first ran expressly to one place without stopping on the way,^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)^(Barnhart 1988) and so the word came to mean “fast, rapid”.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1380 – adjective, explicit.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1384 – verb, to represent.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1400 – for a special purpose.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1619 – noun, a special messenger.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1716 – to send by express.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1841 – ''express train''.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To put into words; to [[state]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To show or communicate, as by a gesture.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To make one's feelings or opinions known, as in speech or art.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To represent by a sign or symbol.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To squeeze or press out, as juice.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To send by express.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Definitely and explicitly stated: ''my express orders''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Particular; specific: ''for the express purpose''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Direct, rapid and usually non-stop: ''an express train''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A fast train, bus or other vehicle making few stops.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A rapid system for delivering goods, mail or money.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # By express delivery.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[expresser]]

+ * [[expressible]]

+ * [[expressless]]

+ * [[expressage]]

+ * [[expressman]]

+ * [[expressway]]

+ * [[overexpress]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[expression]]

+ * [[expressive]]

+ * [[expressly]]

+ * [[press]]

+ * [[espresso]]

+ * [[impress]]

+ * [[oppress]]

+ * [[depress]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}