celebrity English · revision 6833

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=late 14th century|origins=la celeber}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /sɪˈlɛb.ɹɪ.ti/ ''(UK)''; /səˈlɛb.ɹɪ.ɾi/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|celebrite|t=celebration]] or directly [[la|celebritas|t=multitude, fame]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002) from [[m|la|celeber|t=frequented, populous, honoured]] (see [[celebrate]]).^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A solemn rite or ceremony: the late 14th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) late Middle English in SOED and Word Origins.^(SOED 2002)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The ceremonial sense, with the related ''due observance of rites'' and ''pomp'', lasted until the late 18th century.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989) Fame, the condition of being much talked about, is from 1600,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and the concrete sense, a famous person, is from 1849.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Word Origins notes that the Latin source, meaning ''frequented or honoured'', is closer to the modern sense than the English word's original meaning.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 14th century – a solemn ceremony.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1600 – fame, renown.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1849 – a famous person.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A famous person, especially in [[entertainment]] or sport.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The state of being famous; [[renown]] or [[fame]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[celebrityhood]]

+ * [[celeb]]

+ * [[celebutante]]

+ * [[noncelebrity]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[celebrate]]

+ * [[celebration]]

+ * [[celebrated]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}