junior English · revision 4792

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1296|origins=la iunior}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈdʒuː.ni.ər/, US /ˈdʒuː.njɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|iūnior|alt=jūnior|t=younger]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the comparative of iuvenis “young; a young man”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*h₂yuh₁én-|alt=*yeu-|t=vital force, youthful vigour]],^(Etymonline) the root of [[young]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Used after a person's name for the younger of two, at first in Latin contexts: 1296 in Barnhart and the late 13th century in Etymonline,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) in English from 1409 in the OED and 1448 in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun, a younger person, is from 1526,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) or one of lower standing.^(Etymonline) Youthful is from 1606 and is obsolete,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) and of lower rank or more recent appointment from 1766.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) In America ''Junior Class'' is from 1720,^(Barnhart 1988) and a third-year student in a college from 1862 and in a high school by 1896;^(Etymonline) ''junior high school'' is from 1909.^(Etymonline) The abbreviation ''Jr.'' is from the 1620s.^(Etymonline) Meant for children or smaller in size is from 1860,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and ''Junior'' as a name for a young son from 1917, American English.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1296 – after a name, the younger.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1526 – noun, a younger person.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1620s – ''Jr.''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1766 – of lower standing.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1860 – for young people.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1862 – a third-year college student.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1909 – ''junior high school''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Lower in rank or with less experience.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # For or relating to young people: ''junior league''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(US)'' Relating to the third year of [[high school]] or college.^(AHD)

+ # Used after the name of a son who has the same name as his father.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who is younger, or lower in rank, than another.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(US)'' A student in the third year of high school or college.^(AHD)

+ # ''(British)'' A child at a junior school.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prejunior]]

+ * [[subjunior]]

+ * [[juniority]]

+ * [[junior college]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[young]]

+ * [[juvenile]]

+ * [[youth]]

+ * [[rejuvenate]]

+ * [[senior]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}