prominent English · revision 5948

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1440|origins=la promineo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈprɒm.ɪ.nənt/, US /ˈprɑː.mə.nənt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|prōminēns|t=jutting out]] (accusative prōminentem),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) the present participle of [[m|la|prōminēre|t=to jut or stand out, overhang]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from prō “forward” (see [[pro-]]) and -minēre “to project”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) which is related to mōns “hill” (see [[mount]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) from the PIE root [[ine-pro|*men-|t=to project]].^(Etymonline) Compare [[eminent]].^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Projecting, jutting out: probably 1440, in a translation of Palladius, in Barnhart; the mid-15th century in Etymonline; 1545 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of features, conspicuous or striking, it is from 1759,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and of persons, notable or leading, from 1849.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The noun, a prominent person, is from 1608, now North American.^(OED 1989) Moths of the genus Notodonta are called prominents from 1819, from a hump on the back of the larva.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) ''Prominence'' meant a projection in 1598, in Florio, and distinction from 1828.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1440 – projecting.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1598 – ''prominence'', a projection.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1759 – conspicuous.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1819 – a prominent moth.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1849 – of persons, notable.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Important or well known; [[eminent]]: ''a prominent lawyer''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Easily noticed; [[conspicuous]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Projecting or sticking out: ''a prominent nose''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prominently]]

+ * [[overprominent]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prominence]]

+ * [[eminent]]

+ * [[imminent]]

+ * [[mount]]

+ * [[mountain]]

+ * [[menace]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}