emergence English · revision 39972

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=a1676|origins=la ēmergō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /ɪˈmɜː.d͡ʒ(ə)ns/, /iˈmɜː.d͡ʒ(ə)ns/^(Wiktionary)

+ * US: /ɪˈmɝ.d͡ʒ(ə)ns/, /iˈmɝ.d͡ʒ(ə)ns/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ According to the Oxford dictionaries it is [[bor|la-med|ēmergentia]],^(SOED 2002)^(ODE 2010)^(OED 2026) which Klein and the OED call Late Latin;^(Klein 1966)^(OED 2026) Etymonline and Dictionary.com bring it through [[m|fr|émergence]].^(Etymonline)^(Dictionary.com 2016) The Latin noun is formed on [[m|la|ēmergēns]], the present participle of [[m|la|ēmergō|t=to rise up, bring to light]],^(SOED 2002)^(Klein 1966)^(ODE 2010) the source of [[emerge]], with the noun suffix that gives [[-ence]].^(SOED 2002) Merriam-Webster treats the modern word as ''emerge'' plus ''-ence'',^(MWU 2024) and Etymonline suggests that the surviving sense may come directly from the verb.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An unforeseen occurrence that needs immediate attention, the sense now carried by [[emergency]]: Etymonline dates it to the 1640s, the Shorter Oxford to the mid 17th century,^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(ODE 2010) and the OED's first quotation is from Guthry's ''Memoirs'' (before 1676).^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The first sense, an emergency, was obsolete by the 19th century;^(SOED 2002)^(Etymonline) Johnson called the related use for pressing need "a sense not proper".^(OED 2026) The sense that survives, the process of coming forth from concealment, obscurity or confinement, appears first in astronomy and optics, in Newton (before 1727),^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) and in general use by 1755.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster dates the general sense 1704.^(MWU 2024) In geology the word has been used since 1833, in Lyell, for land rising out of the water,^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) and botanists adopted it in 1882, from Sachs, for an outgrowth on a leaf or stem.^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002) Merriam-Webster also records it for recovery of consciousness, as after anaesthesia, and for the appearance of new properties in evolution.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1640s – an unforeseen occurrence, an emergency.^(Etymonline)

+ * a1676 – the OED's first quotation, in that sense.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1704 – the process of emerging, as Merriam-Webster dates it.^(MWU 2024)

+ * a1727 – (astronomy and optics) in Newton.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1755 – coming forth from concealment or obscurity, in general use.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1781 – pressing need (obsolete).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1833 – the rising of land out of water.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1882 – (botany) an outgrowth from a leaf or stem.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The process of coming into view or out of hiding, or of becoming known or important: ''the emergence of a new political party''.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+ # The act of rising out of water or another fluid.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Recovery of [[consciousness]], as after [[anaesthesia]].^(MWU 2024)

+ # (botany) An outgrowth, such as a prickle, formed from tissue beneath the [[epidermis]].^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002)

+ # (obsolete) An unforeseen occurrence; an [[emergency]].^(SOED 2002)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[postemergence]]

+ * [[preemergence]]

+ * [[reemergence]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[emerge]]

+ * [[emergent]]

+ * [[emergency]]

+ * [[merge]]

+ * [[submerge]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}