prize English · revision 4305

+ English has three words spelled ''prize'', all from Old French: “a reward”, a variant of [[price]], with the verb “to value”, then “something captured”, from prise “a taking”, and “a lever”, from the same prise.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /praɪz/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|reward}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=a. 1300|origins=la pretium}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun is a spelling of Middle English pris, prise,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|pris|t=price, value, worth; reward]],^(Etymonline) from Latin [[m|la|pretium|t=price, value]];^(MWU 2024) the spelling with z, which separated it from [[price]], is from the late 16th century.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The verb, “to value”, is [[inh|enm|prisen|t=to value, esteem, praise]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[fro|pris-]], the stressed stem of preisier “to praise, appraise”,^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from Late Latin pretiare, from pretium.^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[praise]] and [[precious]].^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A reward or symbol of victory in a contest: before 1300 in the OED,^(OED 1989) about 1300 in Etymonline, as prise.^(Etymonline) The spelling prize is from 1593, in Shakespeare's 3 Henry VI.^(Barnhart 1988) The verb, to value, is probably from about 1380, and prize from 1586.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A sum of money or a thing offered in a lottery or game of chance is from 1567.^(OED 1989) Anything worth striving for is from about 1600,^(Etymonline) 1606 in the OED.^(OED 1989) A school or college prize is from 1752.^(OED 1989) A prize was also a contest or match, especially a public fencing match, from the 16th century, which survives in ''prizefighter'';^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989) ''prize-fighter'' is from 1703 and ''prize-fight'' from 1730.^(Etymonline) The adjective, worthy of a prize, is from 1803.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a. 1300 – a reward.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1380 – verb, to value.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1567 – a lottery prize.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1586 – the spelling prize, for the verb.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1593 – the spelling prize, for the noun.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1606 – anything worth striving for.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1703 – ''prize-fighter''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1752 – a school prize.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1803 – adjective.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something offered or won as a [[reward]] for winning a contest or competition.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Something worth striving for; a highly valued possession.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Given or offered as a prize, or having won one.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Outstanding of its kind: ''a prize pumpkin''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To value highly; to [[treasure]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To estimate the worth of.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prizewinner]]

+ * [[prizefighter]]

+ * [[prized]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|capture}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=mid-13th century|origins=la prehendere}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|prise|t=a taking, holding]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|fro|prise|t=a taking, seizing, holding]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) the noun use of the feminine past participle of prendre “to take, seize”,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|prēndere]], a contraction of prehendere “to lay hold of, grasp”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from prae- “before” and -hendere, from [[ine-pro|*gʰend-|alt=*ghend-|t=to seize, take]].^(Etymonline) Its spelling with z, from the late 16th century, made it identical with the other prize.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A taking or holding: the mid-13th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) about 1250 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988) The spelling prize is from 1596, in Spenser's Faerie Queene.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Booty is from the 14th century,^(Hoad 1986) and a ship captured at sea, especially lawfully in war, from the 1510s,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) the 16th century in Hoad.^(Hoad 1986) The verb, to seize a ship as a prize, is now rare.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1250 – a taking.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 14th century – booty.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1510s – a captured ship.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1596 – the spelling prize.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Property, especially an enemy ship, captured in war.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Something taken by force; [[booty]].^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ {{homograph|3|lever}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1400|origins=fro prise}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|prise|t=instrument for prying, lever]],^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|fro|prise|t=a taking hold, grasp]], the same word as prize “capture”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) The verb is from the noun.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A lever, an instrument for prying: about 1400 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) the 14th century in Etymonline and Hoad.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb, “to force open or raise with a lever”, is from 1686 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) the 1680s in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) the 17th century in Hoad.^(Hoad 1986) Leverage is first recorded in 1835.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1400 – a lever.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1686 – verb, to pry.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1835 – leverage.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To move or force open with a [[lever]]; to [[pry]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A lever, or the leverage it gives.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[price]]

+ * [[praise]]

+ * [[precious]]

+ * [[prise]]

+ * [[prehensile]]

+ * [[apprehend]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Dorset dialect to prize was to wince or show that one felt pain.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}