practical English · revision 5035

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1425|origins=grc πρακτικός}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpræk.tɪ.kəl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from Middle English practic “dealing with practical matters” or the noun practic “method, practice, use” and the suffix [[-al]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) partly from [[la-med|practicalis]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Practic is from Old French practique and Late Latin prācticus,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[grc|πρακτικός|tr=praktikós|t=fit for action, business-like]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from prássein, práttein “to do, act”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*per-|t=to lead, pass over]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[practice]], [[pragmatic]] and [[praxis]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of or relating to practice or use, applied: before 1425 in Barnhart, in a translation of Chauliac's Grande Chirurgie, and the early 15th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The OED has it from 1617, and the NODE dates it to the late 16th century.^(OED 1989)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The form practical gradually replaced the older adjective practic, much as classical stands beside classic.^(Barnhart 1988) Actually engaged in an occupation is from 1604,^(OED 1989) and of persons whose knowledge comes from practice rather than theory from the 1660s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Being such in practice, virtual, as in ''a practical certainty'', is from 1642.^(OED 1989) A ''practical joke'', a jest carried into action, is from 1771.^(Etymonline) The noun, a lesson or examination devoted to practice, is by 1934, and 1925 in MWU.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1425 – applied, of practice.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1604 – actually practising.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1642 – virtual, in effect.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1660s – of practical people.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1771 – ''practical joke''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1934 – noun, a practical lesson.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relating to real situations and actions rather than [[theory]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Likely to work or be useful; sensible.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Good at dealing with problems and making or doing things.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Being so in effect, though not in name; [[virtual]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(British)'' A lesson or examination in which students do things rather than write.^(Collins 2023)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[practicality]]

+ * [[practicalness]]

+ * [[practically]]

+ * [[nonpractical]]

+ * [[practicalism]]

+ * [[semipractical]]

+ * [[ultrapractical]]

+ * [[unpractical]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[practicable]]

+ * [[practice]]

+ * [[practise]]

+ * [[practitioner]]

+ * [[pragmatic]]

+ * [[praxis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}