territory English · revision 4314

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=a. 1398|origins=la terra}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈter.ɪ.tər.i/, US /ˈter.ə.tɔːr.i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|territorie]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) [[bor|la|territōrium|t=land around a town, domain, district]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|terra|t=earth, land]] and the place suffix -orium,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) perhaps on the model of words such as dormitorium and praetorium.^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) De Vaan notes that the formation is unexplained, since -torium is productive only after verbs;^(Etymonline) an alternative view, somewhat supported by the vowels of the Latin word, derives it from terrere “to frighten”, so that it would be “a place from which people are warned off”.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[terrain]] and [[terrace]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The land under the jurisdiction of a town, state or ruler: before 1398 in Barnhart, in Trevisa's translation of Bartholomew's De Proprietatibus Rerum;^(Barnhart 1988) the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) In the OED it is first the land around a city under its jurisdiction, 1432–50.^(OED 1989) It originally meant the district around a Roman or provincial city.^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The land under the dominion of a ruler or state is from 1494.^(OED 1989) The general sense of any tract of land, a region, is from 1610 in the OED and Barnhart,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) about 1600 in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) The domain of a subject, profession or activity is from the 1630s,^(Etymonline) 1640 in the OED.^(OED 1989) Of an area defended by an animal it is from 1774.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The American sense, an organized division of the country not yet a state, is from 1787,^(Etymonline) and a salesman's area from 1877 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) 1900 in the OED.^(OED 1989) Each half of a football field is from 1896.^(OED 1989) ''Territorial'' is from 1625.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a. 1398 – land under a town's jurisdiction.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1494 – the land of a ruler or state.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1610 – any region.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1625 – ''territorial''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1630s – a field of knowledge or activity.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1774 – an animal's territory.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1787 – a United States territory.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1877 – a salesman's area.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An area of land; a [[region]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The land and waters under the [[jurisdiction]] of a government.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A dependent region, or a division of a country not having the full rights of a state or province.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An area that an animal or group defends against others.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An area for which a person, such as a salesperson, is responsible.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A field of knowledge or activity; a [[sphere]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[subterritory]]

+ * [[territorial]]

+ * [[territoriality]]

+ * [[trust territory]]

+ * [[British Antarctic Territory]]

+ * [[New Territories]]

+ * [[Northern Territories]]

+ * [[Northern Territory]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[terrain]]

+ * [[terrace]]

+ * [[terrestrial]]

+ * [[terra]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}