charter English · revision 6519

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1200|origins=la charta}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈt͡ʃɑːtə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈt͡ʃɑɹtɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English chartre, [[bor|fro|chartre|t=charter, document, covenant]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|chartula|t=little paper]], a diminutive of [[m|la|charta|t=paper, document]] (see [[chart]] and [[card]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A written document granting rights or privileges: probably before 1200, in the ''Ancrene Riwle'';^(Barnhart 1988) the OED has a charter granting privileges from before 1250.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A charter creating or incorporating a borough, university or company is from 1474.^(OED 1989) A deed conveying land is from about 1386.^(OED 1989) The ''People's Charter'' of the Chartists was published in 1838.^(OED 1989) The verb, to grant a charter, is Scots from about 1425,^(Barnhart 1988) and to hire a ship or vehicle by contract from 1806.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) An aircraft or trip hired for a special purpose is a charter from 1922.^(Etymonline) In Nottinghamshire dialect a charter was an ancient custom or privilege.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1200 – a grant of rights.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1425 – the verb.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1474 – a charter of incorporation.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1806 – to hire.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1838 – the People's Charter.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1922 – a chartered aircraft.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A formal document from a ruler or government granting rights or creating an institution such as a city, [[university]] or company.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A written statement of the principles or aims of an organization.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The hire of a ship, aircraft or vehicle for a special purpose.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To hire a ship, aircraft or vehicle.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To grant a charter to.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[charterer]]

+ * [[charterable]]

+ * [[charterage]]

+ * [[charterless]]

+ * [[charterhouse]]

+ * [[Chartism]]

+ * [[Chartist]]

+ * [[subcharter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[chart]]

+ * [[card]]

+ * [[cartel]]

+ * [[chartered]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}