distribute English · revision 39610

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=a1464, J. Capgrave, Abbreuiacion of Cronicles|origins=la tribuō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /dɪˈstɹɪbjut/^(Wiktionary)

+ * UK: /dɪˈstɹɪbjuːt/, /ˈdɪstɹɪbjuːt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|distributen]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024) [[bor|la|distribūtus]], the past participle of [[m|la|distribuō|t=to divide, deal out in portions]],^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) made of [[m|la|dis-|t=apart, in various directions]] and [[m|la|tribuō|t=to assign, grant, allot]],^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) the verb behind [[tribute]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Skeat 1911) Etymonline connects ''tribuō'' with [[m|la|tribus|t=tribe]], since it could also mean "to allot among the tribes".^(Etymonline) Johnson (1755) gave the Latin verb as its source.^(Johnson 1755)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To deal out something in shares among a number of people: a1464, in John Capgrave's ''Abbreuiacion of Cronicles''.^(OED 2026) Barnhart dates the verb to probably before 1425, in a translation of Higden's ''Polychronicon'', and Etymonline to the early 15th century.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) A past participle ''distribute'', "distributed", is recorded from 1434.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From giving out shares the verb widened to spreading things over a whole space or surface (?c1510)^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) and to dividing a whole into parts with different functions (1553);^(OED 2026) Etymonline dates the meaning "separate and put in order" to the 1550s.^(Etymonline) Shakespeare used it in ''Coriolanus'' for administering justice, a sense obsolete after 1746.^(OED 2026) Johnson (1755) defined the verb as to divide among more than two, to deal out.^(Johnson 1755) Later technical senses include classifying (1664), dividing in arithmetic (1593–1702, now obsolete), returning used type to its case in printing (1615), and, in logic, using a term so that it covers every member of its class (1827).^(OED 2026)^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * probably before 1425 – Barnhart's first date.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1434 – ''distribute'' as a past participle, “distributed”.^(OED 2026)

+ * a1464 – to deal out in shares.^(OED 2026)

+ * ?c1510 – to spread over a space or surface.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1553 – to divide a whole into distinct parts.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1593 – (arithmetic) to divide (obsolete by 1702).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1615 – (printing) to put used type back in its case.^(OED 2026)

+ * a1616 – to administer justice (obsolete).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1664 – to classify.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1827 – (logic) to use a term in its full extension.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give out something in shares to a number of people; to [[allot]] or [[apportion]].^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # To hand out or deliver to many people or places: ''Volunteers distributed blankets at the station.''^(Collins 2023)

+ # To spread or [[scatter]] over an area or through a space, often in the passive: ''The plant is distributed across the northern hills.''^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # To divide into classes or groups; to [[classify]].^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # (printing) To return used [[type]] to its proper places in the case.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # (logic) To use a term so that it refers to every member of the class it names.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[distributee]]

+ * [[distributable]]

+ * [[distributary]]

+ * [[distributer]]

+ * [[redistribute]]

+ * [[distribution]]

+ * [[distributor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tribute]]

+ * [[tribe]]

+ * [[contribute]]

+ * [[attribute]]

+ * [[retribution]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Dictionary.com contrasts ''distribute'', which suggests giving a definite or limited amount out in measured shares to individuals, with ''dispense'', which once suggested liberal, general giving and now mostly means giving from an official source according to need.^(Dictionary.com 2016)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}