sing English · revision 4572

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725|origins=gem-pro *singwaną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /sɪŋ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|singen]], [[inh|ang|singan|t=to chant, sing, tell in song]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[gem-pro|*singwaną|alt=*sengwanan]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) also the source of Old Frisian sionga, Old Saxon and Old High German singan, Dutch zingen, German singen, Old Norse syngva and Gothic siggwan.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) It goes back to [[ine-pro|*sengʷʰ-|t=to sing, make an incantation]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline notes there are said to be no related forms outside Germanic, unless Greek omphḗ “voice of a god, oracle” and Welsh dehongli “to explain” belong here.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[song]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To utter words or sounds in musical tones: about 725 in Barnhart, in Beowulf;^(Barnhart 1988) about 825 in the OED.^(OED 1989) To tell of something in song or verse is about 900.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old English singan was used especially of singing in joy or merriment, and late Old English also of birds and wolves.^(Etymonline) In Middle English it sometimes meant to play on a musical instrument,^(Etymonline) and to chant the divine service or say mass (1297, now obsolete).^(OED 1989) To utter praises enthusiastically is from the 1560s,^(Etymonline) and ''sing for one's supper'' by 1745.^(Etymonline) The criminal slang sense “to inform, confess to the police” is found in the 1610s, but the modern use, recorded in American English from 1929, is probably a fresh formation.^(Etymonline)^(Dalzell 2013) The noun, an act of singing, is from 1850,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the sound of a bullet in flight from 1871.^(OED 1989) ''Singer'' is about 1303.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – to sing.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 900 – to tell of in song.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1303 – ''singer''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1560s – to proclaim enthusiastically.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1745 – ''sing for one's supper''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1850 – noun, an act of singing.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1871 – noun, the sound of a bullet.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1929 – to inform to the police.^(Dalzell 2013)

+ * 1959 – ''sing along''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make musical sounds with the voice, especially words with a [[tune]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To perform songs, especially as a trained [[singer]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of birds or insects, to make musical sounds.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To make a high whistling or humming sound: ''the kettle sang''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(literary)'' To praise or tell of in verse.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(slang)'' To give information to the [[police]]; to confess.^(Dalzell 2013)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(informal)'' An act or occasion of singing together.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[singable]]

+ * [[singability]]

+ * [[singingly]]

+ * [[outsing]]

+ * [[sing-along]]

+ * [[singer]]

+ * [[singsong]]

+ * [[scat singing]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[song]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}