relevance English · revision 39828

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1625}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈɹɛl.ɪ.vən(t)s/, /ˈɹɛl.ə.vən(t)s/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It was formed [[af|en|relevant|-ance]] in English,^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(Klein 1966) or perhaps as a back-formation from the earlier [[relevancy]].^(Barnhart 1988) The adjective [[relevant]] comes from [[la-med|relevāns|t=legitimate, pertinent]], a medieval use of the present participle of [[m|la|relevō|t=to raise up, lighten, relieve]],^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Dictionary.com 2016) the verb behind [[relieve]].^(Etymonline)^(Partridge 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In Scots law, legal sufficiency, the adequacy of a charge or claim: 1625,^(OED 2026) although the OED notes that its quotations of 1625 and 1661 may be spellings of ''relevancy''.^(OED 2026) Barnhart and Etymonline date ''relevance'' to 1733,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and ''relevancy'' to 1561.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Like ''relevant'', the word was at first a Scottish legal term and came into general English only after 1800.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) The general sense, connection with the matter in hand, is recorded from 1787.^(OED 2026) In the 20th century it came to be used without any stated subject for pertinence to current issues and needs, from 1935.^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002) In computing it has meant, since 1960, how well a document or search result meets a user's needs.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1561 – ''relevancy''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1625 – (Scots law) legal sufficiency.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1733 – ''relevance'', in Barnhart and Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1787 – connection with the matter in hand.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1935 – pertinence to current issues.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1960 – (computing) the degree to which a result meets a search.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Close [[connection]] with or bearing on the matter being considered: ''The judge questioned the relevance of the evidence.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Importance or usefulness to present-day concerns or needs: ''Critics doubt the play's relevance to young audiences.''^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002)

+ # (computing) How well retrieved information matches what a user was [[search|alt=searching]] for.^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[relevant]]

+ * [[irrelevant]]

+ * [[relieve]]

+ * [[lever]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}