praise English · revision 6044

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1225|origins=la pretium}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /preɪz/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English preisen, praisen, [[bor|fro|preisier|t=to value, prize, praise]], a variant of [[m|fro|prisier]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Late Latin [[m|la-lat|pretiāre|t=to value, prize]] (later spelled preciare),^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|pretium|t=price, value, reward]],^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from PIE [[ine-pro|*pret-yo-]], a form of the root [[m|ine-pro|*per-|t=to traffic in, sell]].^(Etymonline) It is a doublet of [[price]] and [[prize]], which come from variants of the same French word.^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) The noun is formed from the verb in Middle English.^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The earliest English sense was the classical one, to set a price or value on (1292 in the OED),^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and to prize or hold in esteem soon followed.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) To commend or express admiration of is probably before 1200 in the ''Ancrene Riwle'' in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) before 1225 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Praising God in particular is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) The word replaced Old English [[m|ang|lof]] and [[m|ang|hrēþ]].^(Etymonline) The noun is from before 1325 in Barnhart and the early 14th century in Etymonline, but was not common until the 16th century: through most of Middle English the usual noun was [[m|enm|praising]] (about 1200).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The SOED notes that it superseded the older nouns lose and price in this sense.^(SOED 2002) The sense of setting a price on lived on only in dialect,^(SOED 2002) and in Scots ''praise'' was used in exclamations as a substitute for “God”.^(Wright 1898) [[praiseworthy|alt=Praiseworthy]] is from about 1450.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Damn with faint praise'' is from Pope's “Epistle to Arbuthnot”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1225 – to commend.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1292 – to set a value on.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1325 – the noun.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – to praise God.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1450 – praiseworthy.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An expression of approval or [[admiration]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The [[worship]] and glorifying of God or a hero.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A reason for praise; merit.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To express warm approval of or admiration for.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To glorify, especially God, in song or words; to [[extol]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[praiseful]]

+ * [[praisefully]]

+ * [[praiseless]]

+ * [[praiseworthy]]

+ * [[self-praise]]

+ * [[outpraise]]

+ * [[superpraise]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[price]]

+ * [[prize]]

+ * [[appraise]]

+ * [[precious]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The AHD groups praise with [[acclaim]], [[commend]], [[extol]] and [[laud]], all expressing approval or admiration; praise is the general term for voicing approval or esteem.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}