conduct English · revision 4658

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1290|origins=la conducere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: noun: UK /ˈkɒn.dʌkt/, US /ˈkɑːn.dʌkt/; verb: /kənˈdʌkt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is an alteration, influenced by [[la|conductus]], of earlier conduit, condyt,^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) from [[fro|conduit|alt=conduit, conduite|t=leading, guiding, escorting]],^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la-med|conductus]],^(Etymonline) the past participle of Latin condūcere “to lead or bring together”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from con- “together” and dūcere “to lead”,^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*dewk-|alt=*deuk-|t=to lead]].^(Etymonline) It is a doublet of [[conduit]],^(Etymonline) and related to [[conduce]], [[duct]] and [[produce]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The noun, provision for guidance or an escort: about 1290 in the OED;^(OED 1989) about 1441 in Barnhart, in the phrase ''safe conduct''.^(Barnhart 1988) The verb, to guide or lead: before 1422 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) the early 15th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To command, originally an army, is from the mid-15th century,^(Etymonline) and to direct or manage business from 1632.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The noun “manner of conducting oneself, behaviour” is from the 1670s,^(Etymonline) the 17th century in Hoad,^(Hoad 1986) and the verb “to behave” from 1706–1710.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) To direct a musical performance is from 1791.^(Etymonline) In physics, to transmit heat or electricity, it is from 1740.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The Century Dictionary noted that to conduct is to lead with personal supervision a definite task that comes to an end, such as a service, a funeral or a campaign.^(Etymonline) The guiding sense of the noun survives in ''safe conduct''.^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1290 – provision for guidance, escort.^(OED 1989)

+ * a. 1422 – verb, to guide.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-15th century – to command.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1632 – to manage business.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1670s – noun, behaviour.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1706–10 – verb, to behave.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1740 – to transmit heat or electricity.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1791 – to direct music.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The way a person behaves, especially in public or at work.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The way an activity is organized and carried out.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To organize and carry out: ''conduct a survey''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To lead or guide someone.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To direct an [[orchestra]] or [[choir]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To behave in a particular way: ''conduct oneself well''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of a substance, to allow [[heat]] or electricity to pass through it.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[conductibility]]

+ * [[conductible]]

+ * [[misconduct]]

+ * [[safe-conduct]]

+ * [[conductimetry]]

+ * [[superconduct]]

+ * [[conductance]]

+ * [[conduction]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[conduit]]

+ * [[conduce]]

+ * [[duct]]

+ * [[produce]]

+ * [[conductor]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}