reader English · revision 5849

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 961}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈriː.də/, US /ˈriː.dɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|redere]], [[inh|ang|rǣdere|t=one who counsels; one who reads aloud; scholar; interpreter]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) an agent noun formed [[af|ang|rǣdan|-ere]] (see [[read]] and [[-er]]).^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) Dutch raden “adviser” and Old High German rātāri “counsellor” are comparable;^(Etymonline) the Old English feminine was rǣdistre.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who reads aloud, especially one appointed to read in church: about 961 in the OED.^(OED 1989) One who reads or peruses is from about 1050, and an interpreter of dreams from before 1100, a sense lost after Middle English.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A teacher who reads and expounds texts to students is from 1519,^(OED 1989) which led to the title, in some British universities, of a lecturer of the highest grade below professor,^(SOED 2002)^(Collins 2023) and in the Inns of Court a lecturer on law (1517), now an honorary office.^(OED 1989) A proofreader is from 1808 and a publisher's reader of manuscripts from 1829.^(OED 1989) A book of passages for practice in reading, a school reader, is by 1789.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) In criminals' slang a reader was a pocketbook in the early 18th century, and later a marked card.^(SOED 2002) In Scotland a reader was also a preacher who read his sermon.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 961 – one who reads aloud.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1050 – one who reads.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1517 – a lecturer at the Inns of Court.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1519 – a teacher, lecturer.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1789 – a reading book.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1808 – a proofreader.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1829 – a publisher's reader.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who [[read|alt=reads]], or who is fond of reading.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person employed by a [[publisher]] to read and judge manuscripts.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # In some British universities, a [[lecturer]] ranking just below a professor.^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A book of texts for learning to read, or an [[anthology]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A person authorized to read lessons in church; a lay reader.^(SOED 2002)^(AHD)

+ # A device that reads data stored on cards, tape or other media.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[readerly]]

+ * [[readership]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[read]]

+ * [[reading]]

+ * [[riddle]]

+ * [[rede]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}