trans English · revision 5419

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=clipping|attested=c. 1877}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /tɹænz/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a clipping, at different times, of [[translation]], [[transmission]], [[transgender]] and [[transsexual]], all formed with [[trans-]].^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023) In chemistry it is an independent use of the prefix trans-, from [[la|trāns|t=across]].^(NODE 1998)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A translation, in American use: about 1877 in the OED and Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In chemistry, of a molecule with certain atoms or groups on opposite sides of a double bond or ring, it is from 1892, opposed to [[cis]].^(MWU 2024)^(Webster's Third 1961)^(NODE 1998) In Australia ''the Trans'' was the train across the Nullarbor Plain from Adelaide to Perth, recorded from 1918, and short for transcontinental from 1937.^(GDoS)^(OED 1989) A car's transmission is from 1954.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) As an adjective, transgender or transsexual, it is from 1981 in the HTOED, at first of transsexualism or transvestism and now usually of transgender identity;^(HTOED) Green's Dictionary of Slang records the noun, a transgender person, in 1998.^(GDoS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1877 – a translation (US).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1892 – in chemistry.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1918 – the Trans, an Australian train.^(GDoS)

+ * 1954 – a car's transmission.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1981 – transgender.^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(informal)'' [[transgender]] or [[transsexual]].^(Collins 2023)^(Chambers 2008)

+ # ''(chemistry)'' Having certain atoms or groups on opposite sides of a [[double bond]] or ring in a molecule.^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(informal)'' A transgender person.^(Chambers 2008)^(GDoS)

+ # ''(US, informal)'' The [[transmission]] of a car.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[trans fat]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[transgender]]

+ * [[transsexual]]

+ * [[transvestite]]

+ * [[trans-]]

+ * [[cis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}