musical English · revision 4853

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1420|origins=la-med musicalis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmjuː.zɪ.kəl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|musical]], [[bor|frm|musical]],^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from [[la-med|mūsicālis]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Latin mūsica “music”,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Greek mousikḗ “art of the Muses”.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[music]] and [[muse]].^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of or belonging to music: about 1420 in the OED, the early 15th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Fond of or skilled in music is also about 1420 in the OED, the late 15th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Tuneful or harmonious is from about 1430, the mid-15th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Of or pertaining to the Muses is from 1490 and is obsolete.^(OED 1989) Set to or accompanied by music is from 1685.^(OED 1989) ''Musical box'' is from 1829, and ''musical chairs'' from 1862;^(Etymonline) from the game came ''musical'' meaning “passing quickly from one holder to another” (1924).^(Etymonline) The noun first meant a musical instrument (about 1500) and a musical performance (1570s);^(Etymonline) the modern noun, a play or film with songs, is from 1937, short for ''musical comedy'' (1781) or ''musical play''.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1420 – of music; skilled in music.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1430 – tuneful.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1685 – set to music.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1781 – ''musical comedy''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1829 – ''musical box''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1862 – ''musical chairs''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1937 – noun, a musical show.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relating to or containing [[music]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Good at playing or fond of music.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Pleasant to listen to, like music; [[melodious]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A play or film in which singing and dancing are an important part of the story.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[musically]]

+ * [[musicality]]

+ * [[antimusical]]

+ * [[extramusical]]

+ * [[musicalise]]

+ * [[musicalize]]

+ * [[nonmusical]]

+ * [[premusical]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[music]]

+ * [[muse]]

+ * [[musician]]

+ * [[musicale]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}