fill English · revision 4086

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=a. 1000|origins=gem-pro *fullijaną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /fɪl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is [[inh|enm|fillen]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) [[inh|ang|fyllan|t=to fill, make full, replenish, satisfy; to fulfil]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[gem-pro|*fullijaną|alt=*fulljanan|t=to fill]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the source also of Old Saxon fullian, Old Norse fylla, Old Frisian fullia, Dutch vullen, German füllen and Gothic fulljan,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) a causative derivative of [[gem-pro|*fullaz|t=full]], the source of [[full]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) The noun is Middle English fille,^(Barnhart 1988) from Old English fyllu “fullness, feast, satiety”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from Proto-Germanic *fullīn, a noun of state from the same adjective,^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) and has always been associated with the verb.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The verb, “to make full”: Old English before 1000, and Middle English fillen probably about 1200, in the Ormulum.^(Barnhart 1988) The noun, a full supply of food or drink, is Old English, about 725 in Beowulf according to Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) about 893 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Since Old English the noun ''one's fill'', as much as one wants, has been used chiefly of food and drink.^(OED 1989) A quantity sufficient to fill a space is from 1555,^(OED 1989) an embankment filling a hollow from 1850,^(OED 1989) and secondary material inserted for continuity in music or writing from 1934.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) ''To fill the bill'' (1882) was American theatre slang, of a star so famous that the poster carried only his or her name,^(Etymonline) and ''to fill out'', to write in the required matter on a form, is from 1880.^(Etymonline) ''Filler'' is from 1496,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''filling'' from 1325–26.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – noun, a full supply.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * a. 1000 – verb, to make full.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1555 – a quantity that fills.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1850 – an embankment.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1880 – ''fill out''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1882 – ''fill the bill''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1934 – filler material in music.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To put as much into something as it can hold: ''fill a glass''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To become full.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To stop or plug up an opening; to repair a cavity in a [[tooth]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To occupy a position or space: ''fill a vacancy''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To meet or satisfy: ''fill an order''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To supply as much as is needed, as with food.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An amount needed to make full or satisfied: ''ate his fill''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Material, such as earth or gravel, used for filling, or a built-up piece of land.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fillable]]

+ * [[backfill]]

+ * [[eye-filling]]

+ * [[fiberfill]]

+ * [[filler]]

+ * [[filling]]

+ * [[fulfill]]

+ * [[fulfil]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[full]]

+ * [[plenty]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}