singer English · revision 4689

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1300|origins=en sing, en -er}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈsɪŋ.ə/, US /ˈsɪŋ.ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|singer]], formed [[af|en|sing|-er]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) It replaced Old English sangere “singer, poet” and songere “psalmist”.^(Etymonline) A feminine singestre is found in the early 13th century, translating Latin cantrix, and singeresse in the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who sings, male or female: about 1300 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) about 1330 in the OED;^(OED 1989) it appears as a surname in the mid-13th century.^(Etymonline) Barnhart dates it to about 1303, in Mannyng's Handlyng Synne.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A poet is from 1560,^(OED 1989) a songbird from 1626,^(OED 1989) and in criminal slang an informer from 1935, after ''sing'' “to inform”.^(OED 1989) In northern dialect a singer was a member of a village choir.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – one who sings.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1560 – a poet.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1626 – a songbird.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1935 – an informer.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who sings, especially as a [[profession]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(literary)'' A [[poet]].^(AHD)

+ # A songbird.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[folksinger]]

+ * [[nonsinger]]

+ * [[torch singer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mastersinger]]

+ * [[meistersinger]]

+ * [[songster]]

+ * [[songstress]]

+ * [[sing]]

+ * [[song]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A different word singer, one who or that which singes, is from 1875.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}