gross English · revision 5148

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1347–50|origins=la-lat grossus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ɡrəʊs/, US /ɡroʊs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|grosse|t=large]], [[bor|fro|gros|t=big, thick, coarse]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[la-lat|grossus|t=thick, coarse]], a word not found in Classical Latin and of obscure origin.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is perhaps related to Welsh, Cornish and Breton bras “thick, large”, though the vowel is doubtful.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) It is not related to Latin crassus or German groß.^(Etymonline) The noun “twelve dozen” is from French grosse douzaine “large dozen”.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) It is related to [[engross]] and [[grocer]].^(Cresswell 2021)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Large: 1347–50 in Barnhart, the mid-14th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its meaning forked in English.^(Etymonline) From “coarse in texture or quality” came “dull, stupid” (1520s) and “vulgar, coarse in a moral sense” (1530s).^(Etymonline) From “general, not in detail” came “entire, total, without deductions” in the early 15th century, as in ''gross national product'' (1947).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The sense “glaring, flagrant” is from 1581.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The modern sense “disgusting” is first recorded in 1958 in American student slang, from its use with unpleasant things such as ''gross stupidity''.^(Etymonline) The noun “twelve dozen” is from 1394 in Barnhart, the early 15th century in Etymonline,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and a total, as opposed to net, from 1579 in Spenser's Shepheardes Calender.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) The verb, to earn as total income, is from 1884, and the slang ''gross out'' “to disgust” from 1971.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1347–50 – large.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1394 – twelve dozen.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 15th century – entire, total.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1530s – vulgar.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1581 – flagrant.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1884 – verb, to earn.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1958 – disgusting.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1971 – ''gross out''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Total, before anything is taken away: ''gross income''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Very obvious and serious: ''gross negligence''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' Disgusting.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Rude or vulgar.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Very fat or large.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Twelve [[dozen]]; 144.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The total amount before deductions.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To earn a total amount before deductions.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''gross out'' ''(slang)'': to disgust.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[grosser]]

+ * [[grossly]]

+ * [[grossness]]

+ * [[overgross]]

+ * [[ungross]]

+ * [[outgross]]

+ * [[adjusted gross income]]

+ * [[gross anatomy]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[engross]]

+ * [[grocer]]

+ * [[grocery]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}