removal English · revision 5885

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1595}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /rɪˈmuː.vəl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|remove|-al]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) Earlier nouns were remove and removing.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The act of taking away entirely: the 1590s in Etymonline, 1595 in MWU and 1597 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(OED 1989) The SOED gives the early 16th century for a change of place or residence.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Changing one's place, especially one's home, is from 1642, the 1640s in Etymonline,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and dismissal from an office from 1647.^(OED 1989) The removal of a person by murder is from 1655, a quasi-euphemism.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) In Irish English, a removal is the formal taking of a coffin to the church (1890).^(OED 1989) ''Removal van'' and ''removal company'' are British.^(Roach et al. 2011)^(Collins 2023) In South Africa, removal is the forced displacement of a community.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1595 – taking away.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1642 – change of residence.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1647 – dismissal from office.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1655 – murder.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1890 – removal of remains (Irish).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of taking something [[away]], or the fact of being removed.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(British)'' Moving to a new home: ''a removal firm''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # [[dismissal|alt=Dismissal]] from an office.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[remove]]

+ * [[move]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}