downtown English · revision 5479

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1770}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌdaʊnˈtaʊn/, US also /ˈdaʊn.taʊn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from the phrase “down town”, from [[down]] and [[town]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As an adverb, into or towards the town centre, originally in North America: 1770 in the HTOED, 1787 in Etymonline, from a Philadelphia trial: “they lived down town”.^(HTOED)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was used of Savannah by 1780, of Washington by 1800 and of New York by 1813.^(Etymonline) The notion was probably at first literal, of suburbs built on heights around a port city.^(Etymonline) The adjective is from 1814 in Etymonline and 1837 in the HTOED, and the noun, the central business district, from 1851.^(Etymonline)^(HTOED) Smart or sophisticated, as suits downtown, is from 1914.^(HTOED) ''Uptown'' and ''downtown'' interests already divided the voters of Washington in 1800.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1770 – the adverb.^(HTOED)

+ * 1814 – the adjective.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1851 – the noun.^(Etymonline)^(HTOED)

+ * 1914 – smart, sophisticated.^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # ''(chiefly North America)'' In or to the central or business part of a town or city.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(chiefly North America)'' The central or main business area of a [[city]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or in the central part of a city: ''downtown Chicago''.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[downtowner]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[uptown]]

+ * [[down]]

+ * [[town]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}