veteran English · revision 6357

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1509|origins=la vetus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈvɛ.tə.ɹən/, /ˈvɛ.tɹən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|vétéran]] or directly [[bor|la|veterānus|t=old, experienced; long in use]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|vetus|t=old, aged]] (genitive veteris),^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) from PIE [[ine-pro|*wet-|t=year]], also the source of Greek [[m|grc|ἔτος|tr=étos|t=year]] and English [[wether]].^(Etymonline) Latin veteranus was used especially of soldiers, and in rural use of cattle, slaves and vines.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who has had long experience in military service, an old soldier: 1509 in the OED and MWU, about 1500 in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ One who has seen long service in any office or position is from 1597, the 1590s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The adjective is from the 1610s, and of soldiers, much experienced in warfare, from 1611–1728.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Any former member of the armed forces, the usual North American sense, is from 1798.^(OED 1989) A ''veteran car'', one made before 1916 (or 1905), is from 1965.^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023) The short form ''vet'' is from the mid-19th century.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1509 – an old soldier.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1597 – one with long service in any field.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1798 – any ex-serviceman (chiefly American).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1965 – a veteran car.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who has long experience in a particular field.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A former member of the armed forces, especially one who served in a war.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An old soldier with long experience.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having long experience: ''a veteran journalist''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nonveteran]]

+ * [[Veterans Day]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[inveterate]]

+ * [[wether]]

+ * [[vet]]

+ * [[veterinary]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}