communist English · revision 5996

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1841|origins=fr communiste}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkɒm.jʊ.nɪst/ ''(UK)''; /ˈkɑ.mjə.nɪst/, /ˈkɑ.mju.nɪst/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|communiste]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) from commun “common” (see [[common]]) and -iste (see [[-ist]]).^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An adherent of communism: 1841 in Etymonline, 1841–42 in the OED, 1840 in MWU.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) It is first attested in English in the writing of John Goodwin Barmby, a British Owenite and utopian socialist who founded the London Communist Propaganda Society in 1841.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adjective is also from 1841.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The main modern sense, an opponent of capitalism and supporter of revolutionary leftism, emerged after the ''Communist Manifesto'' of 1848,^(Etymonline) and a supporter of Communism, especially of the Soviet kind, is from 1850 in the OED.^(OED 1989) It was used, wrongly according to the OED, for a supporter of the Paris Commune, a Communard, in 1870.^(OED 1989) A radical seen as subversive is an extended use.^(AHD) The shortening ''Commie'' is from 1939.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1841 – an adherent of communism.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1848 – the ''Communist Manifesto''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1850 – a supporter of Communism.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1870 – a Communard.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1939 – Commie.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A supporter of [[communism]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(often Communist)'' A member of a Communist party.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relating to communism or Communists.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[communistic]]

+ * [[communistically]]

+ * [[Chicom]]

+ * [[procommunist]]

+ * [[communist party]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[communism]]

+ * [[common]]

+ * [[commune]]

+ * [[community]]

+ * [[Commie]]

+ * [[-ist]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}