theme English · revision 4203

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=a. 1300|origins=grc θέμα}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /θiːm/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|teme]], theme,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|tesme]], with a silent s (modern French thème),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and directly from [[la|thema|t=a subject, thesis]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[grc|θέμα|tr=théma|t=a proposition, subject; a deposit; something set down]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from the root of [[m|grc|τιθέναι|tr=tithénai|t=to put down, place]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[ine-pro|*dʰeh₁-|alt=*dhe-|t=to set, put]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) The classical th- was restored about 1400.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) It is related to [[thesis]] and [[thematic]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The subject of a discourse or conversation: before 1300 in the OED,^(OED 1989) before 1325 in Cursor Mundi according to Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) the early 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The text of a sermon, a proposition to be discussed, is from 1362.^(OED 1989) The Greek word also meant a prize, a province or military district, and a primary word:^(Etymonline) in English the inflectional base or stem of a word is from 1530,^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) and each of the provinces of the Byzantine Empire from 1788.^(OED 1989) A school essay is from the 1540s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) and in music the principal melody of a piece is from 1597,^(OED 1989) the 1670s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) ''Thematic'' is from 1697.^(Barnhart 1988) The ''theme song'' is from 1929,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and the ''theme park'' from 1960.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a. 1300 – a subject of discourse.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1362 – the text of a sermon.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1530 – the stem of a word.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1540s – a school essay.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1597 – a musical theme.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1929 – ''theme song''.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1960 – ''theme park''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[topic]] of discussion or of a piece of writing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A recurring idea; a [[motif]]: ''the theme of exile''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A subject of artistic representation.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A short essay set as a writing exercise.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # In music, the principal melody of a composition, on which variations are based.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A melody associated with a programme or film; a theme song.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give a theme to a party, restaurant or venue.^(SOED 2002)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[themeless]]

+ * [[themed]]

+ * [[monothematic]]

+ * [[subtheme]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[thema]]

+ * [[thematic]]

+ * [[theme park]]

+ * [[theme song]]

+ * [[thesis]]

+ * [[do]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}