perform English · revision 4004

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=fro parfornir}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /pəˈfɔːm/, US /pɚˈfɔːrm/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|parfourmen]], later performen,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|xno|parfourmer]], performer,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) an alteration under the influence of Old French forme “form” of [[m|fro|parfornir|t=to do, carry out, finish, accomplish]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from par- “completely”, from Latin per-, and fornir “to provide”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Church Latin had a compound performāre “to form thoroughly”.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[furnish]], [[form]] and [[performance]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “To carry into effect, fulfil, discharge”: about 1300 in Etymonline and Barnhart;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the OED has “to carry through to completion” about 1374.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle English it had wider senses than now, including “to make, construct; to bring about”, and of dreams, “to come true”,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and to performen muche time was “to live long”.^(Etymonline) The theatrical and musical senses, to act on a stage or play an instrument, are from about 1600.^(Etymonline) ''Performance'' is from about 1500, at first in law.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) Of machines and persons, “to function, work”, is a later use.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) Johnson defined it as “to execute; to do; to discharge”.^(Johnson 1755)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – to carry out.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1374 – to complete.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1420 – to finish off, decorate.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1500 – ''performance''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1600 – to act or play before an audience.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To begin and carry through to completion; to [[do]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To fulfil a promise, duty or obligation.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To present a play, music or other entertainment before an audience.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To act a role or show a skill before an audience.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To function or work in a given way: ''the car performs well''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[performable]]

+ * [[performer]]

+ * [[performability]]

+ * [[misperform]]

+ * [[outperform]]

+ * [[overperform]]

+ * [[performatory]]

+ * [[reperform]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[furnish]]

+ * [[form]]

+ * [[performance]]

+ * [[furniture]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}