electrical English · revision 5392

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1635}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪˈlɛktɹɪkəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|en|electric|-al]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Giving off electricity when rubbed, as amber does: 1635 in the OED, the 1630s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Relating to electricity or run by electricity, now the usual sense, is from 1746.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Skilled in the science of electricity was a rare sense of 1757,^(OED 1989) and a figurative use, as of an electric atmosphere, is from 1775.^(OED 1989) As a noun, ''electricals'' were shares in electrical companies, chiefly in Britain, from 1931, and electrical appliances or circuitry from 1976.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1635 – producing electricity when rubbed.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1746 – relating to electricity.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1775 – figurative.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1931 – noun, electrical shares.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relating to or using [[electricity]]: ''electrical equipment''.^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Concerned with electricity as a field of work: ''an electrical engineer''.^(Collins 2023)

+ # Exciting or tense, like electricity.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[electrically]]

+ * [[electrical engineering]]

+ * [[electrical storm]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[electromechanical]]

+ * [[electric]]

+ * [[electricity]]

+ * [[electrician]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}