developmental English · revision 39700

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1830, Lancet}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /dɪˌvɛləpˈmɛntəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It was formed [[af|en|development|-al]] in English.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Relating to biological development, especially the development of an individual organism: 1830, in the ''Lancet''.^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) Etymonline also gives 1830,^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster gives 1849 and the Shorter Oxford the mid 19th century.^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Medical writers soon applied it to disorders: from 1834, in a treatise on dentition, of a disease resulting from abnormal or delayed development, a use that later gave terms such as ''developmental delay''.^(OED 2026) The general sense, in the process of development or relating to the development of someone or something, is recorded from 1862.^(OED 2026) The Shorter Oxford also records the senses "incidental to growth" and "evolutionary",^(SOED 2002) and Etymonline notes that ''developmentalist'' (1862) once meant a follower of the theory of evolution.^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster adds the senses "serving to develop", as of aid to poorer regions, and, more broadly, "experimental", as of a series of tests.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1830 – relating to biological development.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1834 – of a disorder, resulting from abnormal or delayed development.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1849 – Merriam-Webster's first date.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1862 – in the process of development; relating to development generally.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relating to the [[growth]] and development of a person or organism, especially from [[birth]] to maturity: ''the developmental stages of a frog''.^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+ # Of a [[disorder]], arising from abnormal or delayed development.^(OED 2026)

+ # Intended to promote development, especially economic development: ''developmental aid''.^(MWU 2024)

+ # Still being developed; [[experimental]]: ''a developmental aircraft''.^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[developmentally]]

+ * [[developmentalist]]

+ * [[nondevelopmental]]

+ * [[postdevelopmental]]

+ * [[developmental biology]]

+ * [[developmental disability]]

+ * [[developmental psychology]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[develop]]

+ * [[development]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}