exit English · revision 5784

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1485|origins=la exeo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈek.sɪt/, /ˈeɡ.zɪt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|exit|t=he or she goes out]], the third person singular present of [[m|la|exīre|t=to go out]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|ex-|t=out]] and [[m|la|īre|t=to go]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from PIE [[ine-pro|*ei-|t=to go]].^(Etymonline) The noun's senses of a going out and a way out also come from Latin [[m|la|exitus|t=a going out]], from exīre.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A stage direction: as a Latin word in English plays about 1485, in the Digby Plays (the plural exeunt), and as an English word in 1538, in a play by John Bale.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The departure of a player from the stage is in Shakespeare's ''Love's Labour's Lost'' (1588),^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and departure from life, death, from 1661.^(OED 1989) A going out or departure from any place is from before 1652,^(Barnhart 1988) and a way out or outlet from 1659 (1695 in the OED for a door of a public building).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The verb, to make one's exit, is from 1607.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) To leave a building or vehicle is from 1976.^(OED 1989) The ''exit poll'' is attested by 1980.^(Etymonline) Fowler noted that exit is a singular verb whose plural is exeunt.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1485 – exeunt, in the Digby Plays.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1538 – exit, a stage direction.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1588 – leaving the stage.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1607 – the verb.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1659 – a way out.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1661 – death.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1980 – ''exit poll''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A way out of a building, room or vehicle.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The act of going out or leaving.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An actor's departure from the [[stage]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(euphemistic)'' [[death|alt=Death]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To go out or [[leave]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[exitless]]

+ * [[exit poll]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[issue]]

+ * [[exeunt]]

+ * [[ambition]]

+ * [[itinerary]]

+ * [[transit]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}