golden English · revision 3982

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1275|origins=en gold}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈɡəʊl.dən/, US /ˈɡoʊl.dən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|golden]], formed [[af|en|gold|-en]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) replacing Middle English gilden, from Old English gylden.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) Gold is one of the few modern English nouns that form adjectives meaning “made of” with -en, as in wooden and leaden.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[gold]] and [[gild]].^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Made of gold: about 1275 in the OED,^(OED 1989) about 1300 in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Of the colour of gold” is from the late 14th century^(Etymonline) (about 1300 in the OED),^(OED 1989) and the figurative “excellent, precious, most valuable” also from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) “Favourable, auspicious”, as in ''a golden opportunity'', is from about 1600.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The ''golden mean'' translates Horace's aurea mediocritas,^(Etymonline) and ''golden age'', an idyllic period in the past, is from late Middle English,^(Cresswell 2021) the 1550s in Etymonline, after the Greek and Roman poets' name for the first age of mankind;^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) as “old age” it is from 1961.^(Etymonline) ''Golden rule'' was earlier ''golden law'' (1670s),^(Etymonline) and in mathematics the golden rule was the rule of three (1542).^(OED 1989) ''To kill the goose that lays the golden eggs'' is from 1597.^(OED 1989) The ''golden handshake'' is from the late 1950s, followed by ''golden handcuffs'' (1960s) and ''golden hello'' (1980s).^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1275 – made of gold.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – precious, excellent.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1542 – ''golden rule'' in arithmetic.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1550s – ''golden age''.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1600 – auspicious.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1670s – ''golden law''.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 1950s – ''golden handshake''.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Made of or containing [[gold]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Having the colour of gold.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Shining; [[radiant]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of great value; precious: ''a golden opportunity''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Marked by peace and prosperity: ''a golden age''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of a 50th anniversary: ''golden wedding''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[goldenly]]

+ * [[goldenness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[gold]]

+ * [[gild]]

+ * [[yellow]]

+ * [[olden]]

+ * [[wooden]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}