frequent English · revision 6227

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1450|origins=la frequens}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈfɹiː.kwənt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|fréquent]] or directly [[bor|la|frequens|t=crowded, repeated, in great numbers]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) of uncertain origin;^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) Watkins and Barnhart derive it from PIE [[ine-pro|*bʰrekʷ-|t=to cram together]], comparing [[m|la|farcio|alt=farcīre|t=to stuff]], but Beekes doubts this.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Ample or profuse: about 1450,^(Barnhart 1988) the mid-15th century in Etymonline, a sense found only in late Middle English.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Crowded, of a place or assembly, is from 1536.^(OED 1989) Common or usual is first recorded in Elyot's ''Boke Named the Governour'' (1531),^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and happening at short intervals, the main modern sense, from 1604.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Addicted or accustomed to a practice is from 1560.^(OED 1989) The verb, to visit or associate with, is from 1477,^(Barnhart 1988) borrowed from French fréquenter or Latin [[m|la|frequento|alt=frequentāre|t=to visit regularly]], and to visit often from the 1550s.^(Etymonline) [[frequency|alt=Frequency]] meant a crowd in the 16th century and the rate of a vibration from 1831.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1450 – ample, profuse.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1477 – the verb.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1531 – common, usual.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1604 – happening often.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Happening often or at short intervals.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Habitual or constant: ''a frequent visitor''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To visit a place often or habitually.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[frequentation]]

+ * [[frequentness]]

+ * [[frequenter]]

+ * [[frequentable]]

+ * [[frequentative]]

+ * [[nonfrequent]]

+ * [[overfrequent]]

+ * [[unfrequent]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[frequency]]

+ * [[frequently]]

+ * [[infrequent]]

+ * [[farce]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}