ingredient English · revision 39866

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1425|origins=la gradior}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ɪnˈɡɹiːdi.ənt/, /ɪŋˈɡɹiːdi.ənt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|ingrediēns|t=entering]] (stem [[m|la|ingredient-]]),^(OED 2026)^(AHD 2024)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) the present participle of [[m|la|ingredior|t=to go in, enter]], formed from [[m|la|in-|t=in]] and [[m|la|gradior|t=to step, go]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(Ayto 2005) The OED thinks the noun sense came at least partly through [[m|fr|ingrédient]], recorded from 1508,^(OED 2026)^(Skeat 1911) and Johnson gave both the French and the Latin word as sources.^(Johnson 1755) The same Latin verb gave [[ingress]], and its past participle gave [[aggression]], [[congress]] and [[digress]].^(Ayto 2005)^(AHD 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Something that goes into a mixture: Barnhart dates it probably before 1425 and Etymonline to the early 15th century;^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) the OED's first example is in John Russell's ''Boke of Nurture'' (about 1460).^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word was at first used mainly of the components of medicines and other preparations,^(OED 2026)^(Ayto 2005) and Johnson (1755) still noted that it was commonly used of the simples of a medicine.^(Johnson 1755) In the 17th century it briefly had senses closer to the Latin verb, "one who steps in" (1614) and "a thing that penetrates" (1624),^(OED 2026) and Shakespeare used it in ''Othello'' for the chief ingredient of something, a use now obsolete.^(OED 2026) As an adjective, "forming part of a whole", it has been used since the 15th century but is now archaic.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) Today it is used above all of the foods in a recipe, and figuratively of any element that contributes to a result.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * early 15th century – a component of a mixture.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1460 – the OED's first example.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1614 – one who steps in (obsolete).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1642 – adjective: forming a component part.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1755 – Johnson: used commonly of the simples of a medicine.^(Johnson 1755)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # One of the [[food|alt=foods]] or substances combined to make a particular dish, [[medicine]] or other [[mixture]]: ''Mix all the dry ingredients before adding the eggs.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # A [[component]] or [[element]] of something: ''Patience is an essential ingredient of good teaching.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ingress]]

+ * [[grade]]

+ * [[gradient]]

+ * [[progress]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}