overseas English · revision 6828

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1580s}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌəʊvəˈsiːz/ ''(UK)''; /ˌoʊvɚˈsiːz/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[over-]] and [[sea|alt=seas]], the plural of sea,^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) replacing the earlier [[oversea]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As an adverb, across or beyond the sea: from the 1580s in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) 1583 in the OED,^(OED 1989) and 1533 in MWU.^(MWU 2024) The adverb ''oversea'' goes back to late Old English.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adjective, foreign, of countries beyond the sea, is from 1892,^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) earlier expressed by ''oversea'' (1749 for movement over the sea).^(Etymonline) It was popularized during the First World War as a British euphemism for colonial,^(Etymonline) and ''overseas Chinese'', Chinese living in other countries, is a set phrase.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) As a noun, foreign parts, it is from 1919.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1533 – the adverb (MWU).^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1583 – the adverb (OED).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1892 – the adjective.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1919 – as a noun, foreign parts.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Beyond or across the [[sea]]; [[abroad]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of, from, in or going to countries across the sea; [[foreign]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(informal)'' Foreign countries as a whole.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[overseas cap]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sea]]

+ * [[oversea]]

+ * [[abroad]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}