trace English · revision 6919

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1300|origins=la traho}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /tɹeɪs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun is [[bor|fro|trace|t=mark, imprint, tracks]], a back-formation from the verb [[m|fro|tracier|t=to look for, follow, pursue]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) from Vulgar Latin [[m|la-vul|*tractiāre|t=to delineate, score]], from Latin [[m|la|tractus|t=a drawing, track]], from [[m|la|traho|alt=trahere|t=to draw, pull]] (see [[tract]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A way or path: before 1300 in the OED;^(OED 1989) a mark left by something passing, the mid-13th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) The verb, to traverse, is from 1381, in Chaucer's ''Parlement of Foules''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The OED says the early sense development in Old French and Middle English is not clear.^(Etymonline) Footprints or a track left by an animal are from the 14th century,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and a vestige of former presence from about 1400.^(Etymonline) The verb, to track down or follow the trail of, is from the early 15th century;^(Etymonline) to follow the course of something with the mind is by 1703, and to copy a drawing on transparent paper from 1762.^(Etymonline) A minute amount of a chemical is from 1827, giving the adjective ''trace'', in tiny amounts (1832).^(Etymonline) A beaten path through wild country is from 1807.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – a path.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1381 – to traverse (verb).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1400 – a vestige.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 15th century – to track down.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1762 – to copy a drawing.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1827 – a minute amount.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To find someone or something by investigation.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To follow the origins or development of something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To copy a drawing by following its lines through a transparent sheet.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To draw the outline of; to [[sketch]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A mark, sign or [[vestige]] left by something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A very small quantity: ''a trace of irony''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A line drawn by a recording instrument.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[traceability]]

+ * [[traceable]]

+ * [[traceably]]

+ * [[traceless]]

+ * [[tracery]]

+ * [[mistrace]]

+ * [[leaf trace]]

+ * [[trace fossil]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tracing]]

+ * [[track]]

+ * [[tract]]

+ * [[traction]]

+ * [[trait]]

+ * [[train]]

+ * [[retrace]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate trace, one of the two straps or chains by which a horse pulls a vehicle, is from Old French traiz, plural of trait, a harnessing strap, from the same Latin tractus; it is recorded from about 1330 and gives ''kick over the traces''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}