gather English · revision 6245

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 750|origins=gmw-pro *gadurōn}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɡæðə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈɡæðɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English gaderen, [[inh|ang|gadrian|t=to unite, assemble, collect]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[gmw-pro|*gadurōn]], from the base of [[together]],^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) cognate with [[ofs|gaderia]], [[nl|gaderen]] and [[gmh|gatern|t=to unite]], and related to Old English [[m|ang|gæd|t=fellowship]] and [[m|ang|gada|t=companion]];^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Etymonline and Barnhart also connect it with [[good]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To come together, assemble, collect: probably about 750, in ''The Phoenix'' and ''Andreas'', in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988) Old English used it of flowers, thoughts and persons.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To infer or conclude, as in ''I gather you're leaving'', is from the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986) To draw cloth into folds by a thread is also ''gather'', and the noun, a fold or pucker in cloth, is from the 1660s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) To gather speed or momentum and to gather one's thoughts follow.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) Gather, together, father and weather were spelled with -d- until the 16th century; the change to -th- reflects a change in pronunciation in most dialects.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 750 – to assemble, collect.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 16th century – to infer.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 16th century – -d- becomes -th-.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1660s – a fold in cloth.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To come or bring together; to [[assemble]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To collect gradually: ''gather information''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To pick or [[harvest]] crops, flowers or fruit.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To understand or conclude from what one has heard.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To increase gradually: ''gather speed''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To draw cloth into small folds by pulling a thread.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A small fold or pucker in cloth.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[gatherer]]

+ * [[gatherable]]

+ * [[forgather]]

+ * [[ingather]]

+ * [[omnium-gatherum]]

+ * [[regather]]

+ * [[together]]

+ * [[upgather]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[gathering]]

+ * [[good]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}