lunar English · revision 39810

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=?a1425, translation of Guy de Chauliac's Grande Chirurgie|origins=la lūna}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈlunɚ/^(Wiktionary)

+ * UK: /ˈluːnə/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|lūnāris|t=of the moon]],^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) perhaps through [[m|fro|lunaire]],^(AHD 2024)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[m|la|lūna|t=moon]].^(OED 2026)^(AHD 2024) The Latin noun goes back to an earlier [[m|itc-pro|*leuksnā]], Skeat's “giver of light”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Skeat 1911) from the Indo-European root [[ine-pro|*lewk-|t=light, brightness]],^(AHD 2024)^(Ayto 2005) which also gave [[m|la|lūx|t=light]], [[m|la|lūmen|t=light]] and English [[light]].^(Ayto 2005)^(MWU 2024) Merriam-Webster compares [[cu|лоуна|tr=luna|t=moon]] and [[mga|lúan|t=moon]].^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Crescent-shaped: probably before 1425, in a translation of Guy de Chauliac's ''Grande Chirurgie'', according to Barnhart;^(Barnhart 1988) the Shorter Oxford also dates this sense to late Middle English, and Etymonline to the early 15th century.^(SOED 2002)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “of or belonging to the moon” is recorded from 1626, in Francis Bacon's ''Sylva Sylvarum'';^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) the OED notes that it formerly often meant influenced by the moon, as the older word [[lunatic]] implies.^(OED 2026)^(Skeat 1911) Collins dates the borrowing to the 17th century and Dictionary.com to 1585–95.^(Collins 2023)^(Dictionary.com 2016) From the moon's cold light came the sense “pale, not warmly bright” in Edward Young's ''Night Thoughts'' (1742).^(OED 2026) Because alchemists called silver ''luna'', ''lunar caustic'' (1801) is fused silver nitrate.^(OED 2026)^(Hoad 1986)^(Weekley 1921) In Arabic grammar the ''lunar letters'' (1776) are those before which the ''l'' of the article stays unchanged, named after ''qamar'', “moon”.^(OED 2026) The space age gave ''lunar module'' (1962).^(OED 2026)^(Collins 2023) As a noun, ''lunar'' has meant a lunar distance or observation in navigation since 1830,^(OED 2026) and in slang a look or glance, recorded in Australia from 1848^(GDoS) and by the OED from 1906.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * ?a1425 – crescent-shaped.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1626 – of or belonging to the moon.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1742 – pale, not warmly bright.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1776 – Arabic grammar: ''lunar letters''.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1801 – of silver: ''lunar caustic''.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1830 – noun: a lunar distance or observation.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1848 – slang noun: a look or glance.^(GDoS)

+ * 1962 – relating to travel to the moon: ''lunar module''.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of, relating to or situated on the [[moon]]: ''lunar dust''.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Measured by or depending on the moon's motion or phases: ''a lunar calendar''.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Used in or designed for travel to the moon or on its surface.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # Shaped like a [[crescent]]; also, pale like moonlight.^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002)

+ # (chemistry, archaic) Of or containing [[silver]].^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[unlunar]]

+ * [[circumlunar]]

+ * [[cislunar]]

+ * [[interlunar]]

+ * [[lunate]]

+ * [[semilunar]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[apolune]]

+ * [[lunacy]]

+ * [[lunatic]]

+ * [[lunation]]

+ * [[lune]]

+ * [[lunette]]

+ * [[lunisolar]]

+ * [[perilune]]

+ * [[sublunary]]

+ * [[superlunary]]

+ * [[luna]]

+ * [[lucid]]

+ * [[luminous]]

+ * [[light]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}