depth English · revision 4635

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=a. 1382}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /depθ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English depthe,^(Barnhart 1988) formed from dēp, [[deep]], and the suffix [[-th]], on the pattern of long and length, broad and breadth.^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(MWU 2024) The word is not recorded in Old English, but the formation existed in [[gem-pro|*deupiþō]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) which gave Old Saxon diupitha, Dutch diepte, Old Norse dypð and Gothic diupiþa.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It replaced the older deepness.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Before 1382 in Barnhart, in the Wycliffe Bible;^(Barnhart 1988) a deep place, deep water, and distance from the top down: the late 14th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) 1393 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The innermost part of anything, as ''the depths of the forest'', is from about 1400.^(Etymonline) The quality of being deep is from the 1520s (1526 in the OED).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Figuratively, profundity of thought is from the 1580s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) of feelings, intensity, from 1596,^(OED 1989) and of colour or darkness from 1624.^(OED 1989) Measurement from front to back is from 1664.^(OED 1989) ''In depth'', thoroughly, is from 1959, hence ''in-depth''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a. 1382 – first recorded.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1393 – distance downward.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – the innermost part.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1526 – the quality of being deep.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1580s – profundity.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1664 – measurement from front to back.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1959 – ''in depth''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The distance from the top down, or from the front to the back.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The quality of being [[deep]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Intellectual or emotional profundity: ''a novel of great depth''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Intensity, as of colour or feeling.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''the depths'': the deepest or innermost part, or the lowest or worst state: ''the depths of despair''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The sense of distance in a picture or image; [[perspective]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[depthless]]

+ * [[in-depth]]

+ * [[depth charge]]

+ * [[depth of field]]

+ * [[depth perception]]

+ * [[depth psychology]]

+ * [[depth sounder]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[deep]]

+ * [[dip]]

+ * [[dive]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}