involve English · revision 6820

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1382|origins=la volvo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪnˈvɒlv/ ''(UK)''; /ɪnˈvɑlv/, /ɪnˈvɔlv/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English involven, [[bor|la|involvo|alt=involvere|t=to roll into, envelop, entangle]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|in-|t=in]] and [[m|la|volvo|alt=volvere|t=to roll]] (see [[volume]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) which Watkins derives from PIE [[ine-pro|*wel-|t=to turn, roll]].^(Etymonline) Etymonline adds Old French involver as a possible source.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To envelop or surround: before 1382, in the Wycliffe Bible,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and to make cloudy or obscure, in the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To entangle a person in trouble or difficulty is from 1387–88.^(OED 1989) Etymonline dates the sense of concerning oneself to the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline) The meaning to take in or include is first recorded in Francis Bacon's ''Advancement of Learning'' (1605),^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and to implicate in a charge or crime is from 1655.^(OED 1989) [[involvement|alt=Involvement]] meant an enveloping structure in 1630 and the state of being involved from 1706.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1382 – to envelop, surround.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1387 – to entangle in trouble.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1605 – to include.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1655 – to implicate in a crime.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To contain or include as a necessary part; to [[entail]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To engage as a participant; to [[implicate]] or [[embroil]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To occupy or absorb the attention of someone.^(AHD)

+ # To make complicated; to [[entangle]].^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(archaic)'' To wrap or [[envelop]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[involvement]]

+ * [[involver]]

+ * [[reinvolve]]

+ * [[interinvolve]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[convolute]]

+ * [[devolve]]

+ * [[evolve]]

+ * [[involute]]

+ * [[revolve]]

+ * [[voluble]]

+ * [[volute]]

+ * [[volume]]

+ * [[involution]]

+ * [[convolution]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}