casual English · revision 6514

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1374|origins=la casus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkaʒ(uː)əl/, /ˈkaʒjuːəl/ ''(UK)''; /ˈkæʒ(u)əl/, /ˈkæʒwəl/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English casuel, [[bor|fro|casuel]] and Late Latin [[m|la-lat|cāsuālis|t=by chance]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|la|cāsus|t=fall, chance, event]] (see [[case]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Subject to or produced by chance; accidental: about 1374 in the OED,^(OED 1989) about 1384 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Occurring at uncertain times, irregular, is from about 1460,^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) and happening without design, offhand, from 1667.^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) A ''casual labourer'' works irregularly.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) Of persons, not dependable or unmethodical, it is from 1883, and showing lack of interest from 1916.^(Etymonline) Of clothes, informal, it is from 1891.^(Etymonline) [[casualty|alt=Casualty]] meant a chance charge or payment in 1422 and a mishap from 1442.^(Barnhart 1988) In golf, ''casual water'' is temporary water on the course (1899).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1374 – by chance.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1460 – irregular.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1667 – without design.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1891 – of clothes, informal.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1916 – showing little interest.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relaxed and unconcerned; showing little interest.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Happening by chance; not planned: ''a casual meeting''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Informal, especially of clothes.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Not regular or permanent: ''casual work''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Without deep involvement: ''a casual relationship''.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A worker employed irregularly.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[casually]]

+ * [[casualness]]

+ * [[decasualize]]

+ * [[overcasual]]

+ * [[ultracasual]]

+ * [[uncasual]]

+ * [[casualty]]

+ * [[casual water]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[case]]

+ * [[occasion]]

+ * [[accident]]

+ * [[cascade]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}