bold English · revision 6726

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725|origins=gem-pro *balþaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈbəʊld/ ''(UK)''; /boʊld/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English bold, [[inh|ang|bald]], West Saxon beald,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[gem-pro|*balþaz]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) cognate with [[goh|bald|t=bold, swift]] (modern German [[m|de|bald|t=soon]]), [[non|ballr|t=frightful, dangerous]] and Gothic balþaba, boldly,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) perhaps from PIE [[ine-pro|*bʰel-|t=to blow, swell]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Stout-hearted, brave, confident: Old English, about 725 in Barnhart, in a translation of ''Exodus'';^(Barnhart 1988) the OED has before 1000.^(OED 1989) The modern spelling bold is from about 1250.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In a bad sense, audacious or presumptuous, it is from about 1200,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and of words and deeds, showing courage, from the mid-13th century.^(Etymonline) ''Make so bold'', to presume, is from about 1385.^(OED 1989) Standing out to the eye, striking, is from the 1670s,^(Etymonline) and in printing bold type is short for [[boldface]] (about 1871).^(MWU 2024) Of flavours such as coffee, strong, it is from 1829.^(Etymonline) Old French baut and Italian baldo, bold, are Germanic loanwords.^(Etymonline) The Germanic word survives in names such as Archibald, Leopold and Theobald.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – brave, confident.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – presumptuous.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1385 – make so bold.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1670s – striking to the eye.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1829 – of flavours.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1871 – bold type.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Fearless and daring; [[courageous]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Showing or requiring courage: ''a bold plan''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Too forward; [[impudent]] or [[brazen]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Clear and distinct; [[conspicuous]]: ''bold colours''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Printed in thick heavy type; [[boldface]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of a cliff or coastline, steep.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[boldly]]

+ * [[boldness]]

+ * [[bold-faced]]

+ * [[boldface]]

+ * [[extrabold]]

+ * [[overbold]]

+ * [[superbold]]

+ * [[unbold]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bield]]

+ * [[bolden]]

+ * [[embolden]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}