importance English · revision 4477
15 Oct 2026, 23:25 by bogdan “en10k b0160: identify … importance” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1508|origins=la importare}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: UK /ɪmˈpɔː.təns/, US /ɪmˈpɔːr.təns/^(Roach et al. 2011)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[bor|frm|importance]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) or directly [[der|la-med|importantia|t=significance, consequence]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002) from important- “being of consequence”, from importāre,^(NODE 1998) the source of [[important]] and [[import]].^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) Merriam-Webster takes the French word from Old Italian importanza.^(MWU 2024)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The quality of being important, or of signifying: 1508 in the OED,^(OED 1989) about 1500 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) the early 16th century in NODE and SOED.^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ An important matter is from 1570,^(OED 1989) and an important person from the late 16th century in SOED, 1896 in the OED.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989) Urgency or importunity was a sense in the 16th century, now obsolete,^(OED 1989) and a dignified style or air of consequence, pompousness, from 1607.^(OED 1989) Personal consequence or standing is from 1678.^(OED 1989)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 1508 – significance.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1570 – an important matter.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1607 – an air of consequence.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1678 – personal standing.^(OED 1989)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # The quality of being important; [[significance]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # Personal status or standing; [[consequence]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # ''(archaic)'' An important matter.^(AHD)
+ # ''(obsolete)'' Importunity.^(AHD)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[unimportance]]
+ * [[self-importance]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[important]]
+ * [[import]]
+ * [[port]]
+
+ ==Usage notes==
+ Importance, consequence, moment, significance, import and weight all refer to being significant or worthy of note; importance is the most general.^(AHD)
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}