implement English · revision 6746

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1454|origins=la impleo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɪmpləmɛnt/, /ˈɪmpləmənt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is partly [[bor|la-med|implēmenta|t=equipment]], plural, from medieval Latin implēre, to employ, spend (by association with implicāre), and partly [[bor|la-lat|implēmentum|t=a filling up, fulfilment]],^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|la|impleo|alt=implēre|t=to fill up, fulfil]], from [[m|la|in-|t=in]] and [[m|la|pleo|alt=plēre|t=to fill]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from PIE [[ine-pro|*pleh₁-|alt=*pele-|t=to fill]].^(Etymonline) Barnhart suggests influence from Old French emplement, act of filling.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Things that serve as equipment, as for a house: 1454 in the OED;^(OED 1989) a supplementary payment in 1445 in Barnhart and Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Tools or utensils used in a trade are from 1538, in the plural,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and a single tool from 1628.^(Barnhart 1988) In Scots law it meant fulfilment (1754),^(OED 1989) and the verb, to carry into effect, was originally Scottish, from 1707 in Etymonline, 1806 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) [[implementation|alt=Implementation]] is recorded by 1913.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1454 – equipment.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1538 – tools.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1628 – a single tool.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1707 – the verb.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1754 – fulfilment (Scots law).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[tool]] or instrument used in doing work.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A means of achieving an end; an [[agent]].^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To put into effect; to carry out: ''implement a plan''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[implementation]]

+ * [[implementer]]

+ * [[implementable]]

+ * [[implemental]]

+ * [[nonimplement]]

+ * [[reimplement]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[complement]]

+ * [[supplement]]

+ * [[fill]]

+ * [[full]]

+ * [[plenty]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The AHD notes that the verb, to put into practice, has been used since the 19th century; some critics objected to it as jargon, but its usefulness has outweighed their objections.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}