solar English · revision 4749

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1450|origins=la solaris}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈsəʊ.lə/, US /ˈsoʊ.lɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|sōlāris|t=of the sun]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from sōl “sun”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*sóh₂wl̥|alt=*sawel-|t=sun]].^(Etymonline) Latin sōl is cognate with Old Norse sól, Gothic sauil, Greek hḗlios, Welsh haul, Lithuanian sáulė and Sanskrit sūra-,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) and English [[sun]] is from the same root.^(Cresswell 2021) It is related to [[solstice]], [[parasol]] and [[solarium]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of or relating to the sun, its course, light or heat: about 1450 in the OED and Barnhart,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) the mid-15th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) The earlier English word was Old English sunlic, Middle English sonneli.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Time measured by the sun's course is from 1594.^(OED 1989) The ''solar system'' is from before 1704, in Locke.^(Barnhart 1988) Operated by means of the sun's light or heat is from 1740.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Solar power'' is from 1908 in Barnhart and 1915 in Etymonline,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and the photovoltaic ''solar cell'' from 1955.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The use of the sun's rays as a source of energy, as in ''solar heating'', is from 1972 in the OED.^(OED 1989) In astrology it means subject to the influence of the sun (1626).^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1450 – of the sun.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1594 – of time, fixed by the sun.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1626 – in astrology.^(OED 1989)

+ * a. 1704 – ''solar system''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1740 – worked by the sun's heat.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1908 – ''solar power''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1955 – ''solar cell''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of, relating to or coming from the [[sun]]: ''a solar [[eclipse]]''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Using or worked by energy from the sun: ''solar panels''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Measured by the earth's motion relative to the sun: ''the solar year''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[circumsolar]]

+ * [[nonsolar]]

+ * [[presolar]]

+ * [[solarism]]

+ * [[solunar]]

+ * [[supersolar]]

+ * [[unsolar]]

+ * [[antisolar]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sun]]

+ * [[solstice]]

+ * [[parasol]]

+ * [[solarium]]

+ * [[helium]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A different word solar, an upper room in a medieval house, is from Old English soler, from Latin sōlārium “terrace, gallery”.^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}