seventh English · revision 6609

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1300}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsɛvnθ/ ''(UK)''; /ˈsɛvənθ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a Middle English formation from [[seven]] and [[-th]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) replacing sevende, seveth, which are [[inh|ang|seofoþa]], Anglian seofunda,^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) from [[gem-pro|*sebunþô]], from *sebun, seven; compare [[non|sjaundi]], [[goh|sibunto]] and [[sa|सप्तथ|tr=saptatha|t=seventh]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Next after the sixth: about 950 in the OED, counting the Old English forms;^(OED 1989) the new formation from seven is from about 1300.^(Etymonline) MWU dates it to the 12th century.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a noun, the one next after the sixth, it is from late Old English, and one of seven equal parts by the 1550s.^(Etymonline) In music, the interval between a tone and the tone seven degrees above it is a seventh by the 1590s.^(Etymonline) The ''seventh heaven'', a state of great joy, is from 1818,^(OED 1989) and the ''seventh wave'', thought to be the largest in a series, from 1891.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 950 – Old English seofoþa.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – seventh, from seven.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1550s – a seventh part.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – in music.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1818 – seventh heaven.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Coming next after the sixth in order, place or time.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # One of seven equal parts.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(music)'' The [[interval]] between a note and the note seven degrees above or below it, or a chord built on it.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[seventh chord]]

+ * [[seventh heaven]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[seven]]

+ * [[seventeen]]

+ * [[seventy]]

+ * [[septet]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}