contribute English · revision 5870

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1530|origins=la contribuo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /kənˈtrɪb.juːt/, /ˈkɒn.trɪ.bjuːt/, US /kənˈtrɪb.juːt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|contribūtus]], past participle of [[m|la|contribuere|t=to bring together, add, unite, collect]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from com- “with, together” (see [[con-]]) and tribuere “to allot, pay” (see [[tribute]]);^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) Barnhart takes it as probably in part a back-formation from the earlier [[contribution]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To give jointly with others to a common fund: 1530, in Palsgrave's ''Lesclarcissement'', in Barnhart, the OED and MWU;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) the 1520s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The intransitive use, to give or make a contribution, is from before 1610.^(OED 1989) The figurative sense, to have a part in bringing about a result, is from the 1630s;^(Etymonline) the OED has the transitive use from 1634.^(OED 1989) To write articles for a newspaper or magazine is from 1653 in the OED, with the intransitive use following in 1864.^(OED 1989) Two rare 16th-century senses, to levy tribute on and to pay tribute, are now obsolete.^(OED 1989) ''Contribution'' is older, from before 1387, when it meant a tax, in Trevisa;^(Barnhart 1988) ''contributor'' is from 1433 and ''contributory'' from 1410.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1387 – ''contribution'', a tax.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1530 – to give to a common fund.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1559 – to make tributary (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1630s – to help bring about.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1653 – to write for a publication.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give [[money]], help or goods together with others for a common purpose.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To help bring about a result; to be one of its causes: ''smoking contributed to his illness''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To supply ideas or opinions to a [[discussion]].^(Collins 2023)

+ # To write articles for a [[newspaper]] or [[magazine]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[contributive]]

+ * [[contributively]]

+ * [[contributiveness]]

+ * [[contributor]]

+ * [[contributable]]

+ * [[uncontributed]]

+ * [[overcontribute]]

+ * [[noncontributing]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[contribution]]

+ * [[contributory]]

+ * [[tribute]]

+ * [[attribute]]

+ * [[distribute]]

+ * [[tribe]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}