holder English · revision 6744

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1350}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈhəʊldə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈhoʊɫdɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English, formed from holden, to [[hold]], and [[-er]].^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) Similar formations are Old Frisian [[m|ofs|haldere]], Dutch [[m|nl|houder]] and German [[m|de|Halter]]; the Old English agent noun was [[m|ang|healdend|t=protector, guardian, ruler]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who holds, occupies or owns, a tenant: about 1350 in the OED, about 1400 in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ One who grasps something is from the 15th century.^(OED 1989) A canine tooth was called a holder in 1672.^(OED 1989) A device for holding something is from 1827 in Etymonline, 1833 in the OED,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and in sport, the current winner of a title or cup, from 1830.^(OED 1989) In law, the person entitled to the payment of a cheque or bill is a specific sense.^(AHD) A separate holder, a workman in a ship's hold, is from the late 15th century.^(SOED 2002) Wright's dialect dictionary records holder in Scotland and northern England for a lever or crowbar and similar uses.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1350 – an occupier, owner.^(OED 1989)

+ * 15th century – one who grasps.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1827 – a holding device.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1830 – a title holder.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who holds or owns something: ''a passport holder''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A device for holding something: ''a cigarette holder''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person who occupies an office or holds a title.^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(law)'' A person legally entitled to payment of a cheque, bill or note.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[holdership]]

+ * [[bondholder]]

+ * [[boxholder]]

+ * [[candleholder]]

+ * [[cardholder]]

+ * [[copyholder]]

+ * [[cupholder]]

+ * [[gasholder]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[hold]]

+ * [[holding]]

+ * [[stakeholder]]

+ * [[householder]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}