wooden English · revision 5986

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1538}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈwʊd.ən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|wood|-en]], the adjective suffix of material as in golden and woollen.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Made of wood: 1538 in the OED, the 1530s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Lacking grace, liveliness or expression is from before 1566,^(OED 1989) and stiff, ungainly or clumsy by the 1560s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) Of persons, mentally dull or insensitive is from before 1586,^(OED 1989) and poor or worthless from 1592.^(OED 1989) Belonging to the woods, sylvan, was a rare sense of 1606.^(OED 1989) The wooden nickel, a type of something worthless, is American English by 1892.^(Etymonline) The wooden spoon is a booby prize, originally a wooden spoon presented to the candidate who came last.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1538 – made of wood.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1560s – stiff, clumsy.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1566 – expressionless.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1586 – dull-witted.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1892 – wooden nickel.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Made of [[wood]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Stiff and without life or expression: ''a wooden performance''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Clumsy and awkward.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Dull in sound; not resonant: ''a wooden thud''.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[woodenly]]

+ * [[woodenness]]

+ * [[wooden-headed]]

+ * [[woodenhead]]

+ * [[woodenware]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[wood]]

+ * [[woody]]

+ * [[wooded]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}