commitment English · revision 5212

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1603}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kəˈmɪt.mənt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|en|commit|-ment]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) Anglo-French had commettement.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The official consigning of someone to custody, as to prison: 1610s in Etymonline, 1621 in the OED, 1603 in MWU.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The referring of a bill to a committee is from 1640–41,^(OED 1989) and the committing of an offence, from 1611, is now obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) A warrant to commit someone to prison is from 1755.^(OED 1989) The pledging of oneself to a course of action, a promise, is from 1793,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) which led to an obligation or engagement in 1864.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1603 – first known use.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1621 – consigning to custody.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1640–41 – referring a bill to committee.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1793 – a pledge.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1864 – an obligation.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A promise or [[pledge]] to do something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Dedication to a cause, activity or person.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An obligation that limits one's freedom of action.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The official sending of a person to prison or to a mental hospital.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The referral of a bill to a [[committee]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[noncommitment]]

+ * [[precommitment]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[commit]]

+ * [[committal]]

+ * [[noncommittal]]

+ * [[committee]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}