somewhat English · revision 4553

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 1200}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈsʌm.wɒt/, US /ˈsʌm.wɑːt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound of [[some]] and [[what]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) It replaced Old English sumdǣl, sume dǣle “some portion”, literally “some deal”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A certain amount, especially of information: about 1200 in the OED;^(OED 1989) the adverb, in a certain amount, to some degree: about 1200 in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a noun, something not specified is from the early 13th century,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and some part or portion of something, with a dependent genitive, from 1297.^(OED 1989) The pronoun use, meaning “something”, is now archaic.^(SOED 2002)^(AHD) The adverb, to some extent, rather, is the main modern use,^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) and colloquial ''more than somewhat'', very much, is later.^(SOED 2002) In dialects of Scotland and England it is pronounced somat or summat.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – a certain amount; adverb.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * early 13th century – something.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1297 – a part of something.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # To some extent or degree; [[rather]] or slightly.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Pronoun===

+ # ''(archaic)'' [[something|alt=Something]]: ''somewhat of a scholar''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[some]]

+ * [[what]]

+ * [[something]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}