veterinary English · revision 39870

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1678|origins=la veterīnus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /ˈvɛtɪnɹi/, /ˈvɛtɹɪnɹi/^(Wiktionary)

+ * US: /ˈvɛtəɹɪnɛɹi/, /ˈvɛtɹɪnɛɹi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|veterīnārius|t=of or for beasts of burden; as a noun, an animal doctor]],^(OED 2026)^(AHD 2024)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|veterīnae|t=beasts of burden, cattle]] (also neuter [[m|la|veterīna]]), the plural of [[m|la|veterīnus|t=of beasts of burden]], with the suffix that became [[-ary]].^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024)^(Dictionary.com 2016) [[m|fr|vétérinaire]], recorded from 1563, may have helped it into English.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1995) The adjective ''veterīnus'' is usually taken from [[m|la|vetus|t=old]] (stem [[m|la|veter-]]), though the reason is explained in different ways: an animal old enough to carry loads (Klein, Collins, Dictionary.com), one past other work (Hoad), or, in Skeat, one that has passed its first year, a sense he linked with [[wether]].^(Klein 1966)^(Collins 2023)^(Dictionary.com 2016)^(Hoad 1986)^(Skeat 1911)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Relating to the medical treatment of animals: the OED's first example is from a 1678 book catalogue;^(OED 2026) Etymonline dates the adjective by 1766, Barnhart to 1791 and Merriam-Webster to 1790.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word was first used of the care of farm and domestic animals, especially horses and cattle,^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) and later of animals in general.^(OED 2026) ''Veterinary'' as a noun, "veterinary medicine", appears once in 1699; as a noun for an animal doctor it is recorded from 1829 in the OED, but only from 1861 in Barnhart and Merriam-Webster.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MWU 2024) The noun [[veterinarian]] is older, from 1646,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Hoad 1986) and the clipped form [[vet]] later replaced both in everyday use.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1646 – ''veterinarian''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1678 – adjective: relating to animal medicine.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1699 – noun: veterinary medicine (rare).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1829 – noun: a veterinary surgeon.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relating to the [[medicine]] and [[surgery]] of animals, especially [[domestic]] and farm animals: ''a veterinary clinic''.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A veterinary surgeon; a [[veterinarian]].^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nonveterinary]]

+ * [[veterinary surgeon]]

+ * [[veterinary medicine]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[veterinarian]]

+ * [[vet]]

+ * [[veteran]]

+ * [[wether]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In British use the professional is a ''veterinary surgeon'', in American use a ''veterinarian''; both are commonly shortened to ''vet''.^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}