teach English · revision 3973

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 888|origins=ine-pro *deyḱ-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /tiːtʃ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|techen]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) [[inh|ang|tǣċan|t=to show, point out, declare; to give instruction]] (past tense tǣhte),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[gem-pro|*taikijaną|alt=*taikijan|t=to show]],^(Etymonline) the source also of Old High German zīhan and German zeihen “to accuse” and Gothic ga-teihan “to announce”,^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*deyḱ-|alt=*deik-|t=to show, point out]],^(Etymonline) the root also of Greek deiknynai “to show”.^(NODE 1998) It is related to Old English tācen “sign, mark”, the source of [[token]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) The past tense tǣhte became early Middle English tahte, taghte, and so the current [[taught]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old English tǣcan is recorded before 899, in Alfred's translation of Boethius;^(Barnhart 1988) the OED's forms begin about 888.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The usual sense of Old English tǣcan was “to show, declare, warn, persuade”, as with German zeigen “to show” from the same root,^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) while the common word for “to teach, instruct, guide” was lǣran, the source of [[learn]] and [[lore]].^(Etymonline) The notion is “to show how to do something by way of information”.^(Etymonline) By the mid-14th century it meant to spread a system of belief,^(Etymonline) and by the 1560s it was used in threats, “to make known to someone at a cost”, as in ''I'll teach you to''.^(Etymonline) The proverb ''don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs'' has been in use since the 18th century.^(Cresswell 2021) Johnson noted that the past form teached was then obsolete.^(Johnson 1755) The noun, a colloquial shortening of [[teacher]], is from 1958.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 888 – to show, teach.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-14th century – to spread a belief.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1560s – in threats.^(Etymonline)

+ * 18th century – ''teach your grandmother to suck eggs''.^(Cresswell 2021)

+ * 1958 – noun, a teacher.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give knowledge or skill to; to [[instruct]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To give instruction in a subject: ''teaches French''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To cause to learn by example or experience: ''that will teach you''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To advocate or preach.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To give instruction, especially as an occupation.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[coteach]]

+ * [[misteach]]

+ * [[overteach]]

+ * [[underteach]]

+ * [[unteach]]

+ * [[nonteaching]]

+ * [[teach-in]]

+ * [[teacher]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[token]]

+ * [[taught]]

+ * [[learn]]

+ * [[lore]]

+ * [[indicate]]

+ * [[digit]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}