thin English · revision 5002

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=849|origins=ine-pro *ten-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /θɪn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|thinne]], [[inh|ang|þynne|t=narrow, lean, scanty, weak]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[gem-pro|*þunnuz|alt=*thunnuz]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) the source also of Dutch dun, German dünn and Old Norse þunnr.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is from [[ine-pro|*ten-|t=to stretch]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) the source also of Latin tenuis “thin”, Sanskrit tanú- “thin” and Old Irish tanae,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) so that it is related to [[tenuous]], [[extenuate]] and [[tend]].^(Cresswell 2021)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of parts placed far apart, sparse: 849 in the OED and Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) Having little thickness: before 900.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Lean, not fat, is from about 1000.^(OED 1989) Of plants and hair, sparse, is from about 1300,^(Etymonline) and of air, rarefied, from the late 14th century, with ''thin air'' from the late 15th century, as in Shakespeare's Tempest.^(Etymonline) Easily seen through, as an excuse, is from 1613.^(OED 1989) Of a group, not numerous, is from 1508.^(OED 1989) ''Thin-skinned'' meant having a thin skin in 1598 and sensitive to criticism from 1680.^(Barnhart 1988) ''The thin end of the wedge'' is from the mid-19th century.^(Cresswell 2021) The verb, Old English þynnian “to make thin, dilute”, is from about 900,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) and to become thin from 1804.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 849 – sparse.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * a. 900 – of little thickness.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1000 – lean.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 15th century – ''thin air''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1613 – easily seen through.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1680 – ''thin-skinned'', sensitive.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1804 – verb, to become thin.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having a small distance between opposite sides.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Having little fat on the body; [[slim]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Not dense; sparse: ''thin hair''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of a liquid, watery.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Weak or unconvincing: ''a thin excuse''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make or become thinner or less dense.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[thinly]]

+ * [[thinness]]

+ * [[thinnish]]

+ * [[microthin]]

+ * [[overthin]]

+ * [[superthin]]

+ * [[ultrathin]]

+ * [[paper-thin]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tenuous]]

+ * [[extenuate]]

+ * [[tend]]

+ * [[thick]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}