aim English · revision 4858

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1330|origins=la aestimare}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /eɪm/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|aimen]], partly [[bor|fro|esmer|alt=esmer, amer|t=to value, estimate]], from [[la|aestimāre|t=to appraise, assess]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) and partly from Old French aesmer, from Vulgar Latin *adaestimāre, from ad- “to” and aestimāre.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) It is a doublet of [[esteem]],^(Barnhart 1988) and related to [[estimate]].^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To estimate, calculate or reckon, and to intend: 1330 in the OED,^(OED 1989) about 1300 in Etymonline, about 1303 in Barnhart, in Mannyng's Handlyng Synne.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Word Origins sums it up as evaluation before a direction is taken.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The modern sense came from calculating the direction of something about to be thrown or struck (about 1380),^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) through “to calculate with a view to action, to plan”.^(Etymonline) To direct a missile or blow is from the late 14th century in Etymonline and 1573 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Middle English also used it of directing a letter, setting up an altar and pitching a tent.^(Etymonline) The intransitive “to intend, attempt”, used by Shakespeare, is now colloquial.^(Etymonline) The noun, a purpose, is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and the act of aiming from the early 15th century;^(Etymonline) ''take aim'' was first ''make aim''.^(Etymonline) The old sense “guess, conjecture” survives in Midland dialect.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1330 – to estimate; to intend.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1380 – to calculate the direction of a blow.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – noun, a purpose.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 15th century – noun, the act of aiming.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1573 – to direct a weapon with the eye.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To point a weapon or object at a [[target]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To try or intend to do or achieve something: ''aim to finish by Friday''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To direct words or a product at a particular person or group.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something that a person intends to achieve; a [[purpose]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The act of pointing a weapon at a target, or the skill of doing so.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[aimless]]

+ * [[aimlessly]]

+ * [[aimlessness]]

+ * [[aimer]]

+ * [[aimful]]

+ * [[aimfully]]

+ * [[unaiming]]

+ * [[misaim]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[esteem]]

+ * [[estimate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}