compound English · revision 6977
16 Oct 2026, 12:58 by bogdan “en10k b0285: carpet … grain” current version
Initial text
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+ English has two words spelled compound: the verb, adjective and noun meaning combining or combined, from Latin componere, and the noun meaning an enclosure, from Malay.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: /ˈkɑmpaʊnd/; /ˈkɒmpaʊnd/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)
+
+ {{homograph|1|combine; a combination}}
+
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1380|origins=la compono}}
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is Middle English compounen, [[bor|fro|compondre|t=to arrange, direct]], componre (present stem compon-),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|compono|alt=compōnere|t=to put together]], from [[m|la|com-|t=together]] and [[m|la|pono|alt=pōnere|t=to place]] (see [[position]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The unetymological -d appeared in the 16th century, as in [[expound]] and [[propound]], perhaps also influenced by the adjective, the old past participle compouned.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ To mix or combine: about 1380, in Chaucer;^(Barnhart 1988) to put together, join, 1393 in the OED.^(OED 1989) The adjective, composed of several elements, is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ To settle a dispute or debt by agreement is from the 15th century,^(Hoad 1986) and in law, to accept money in return for not prosecuting, ''compounding a felony'', follows.^(AHD)^(Black's Law 2004) The noun, a compound word, is from 1530, and a compound substance from the 17th century.^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) The ''compound sentence'' is from 1772, and the ''compound eye'' from 1836.^(Etymonline) To make worse by adding to, as ''compound the problem'', and ''compound interest'' are later senses.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 1380 – to mix, combine.^(Barnhart 1988)
+ * late 14th century – compound (adjective).^(Etymonline)
+ * 15th century – to settle a debt.^(Hoad 1986)
+ * 1530 – a compound word.^(MWU 2024)
+ * 1772 – compound sentence.^(Etymonline)
+ * 1836 – compound eye.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A thing made up of two or more parts or elements.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # ''(chemistry)'' A substance formed by the chemical union of two or more [[element|alt=elements]] in fixed proportions.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # ''(grammar)'' A word made up of two or more words, such as ''blackbird''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+
+ ===Adjective===
+ # Made up of two or more parts: ''a compound fracture''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+
+ ===Verb===
+ # To make worse by adding to: ''compound the problem''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # To combine or mix.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # To calculate interest on both the principal and accumulated interest.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # ''(law)'' To agree, for payment, not to prosecute a crime.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+
+ {{homograph|2|enclosure}}
+
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1679|origins=ms kampung}}
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[bor|ms|kampung|t=enclosure, village, quarter of a town]], kampong,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) perhaps through Dutch or Portuguese,^(Etymonline) with the spelling changed by the influence of compound, to combine.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The enclosure of a factory or settlement of Europeans in the East: 1679, the 1670s in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ According to Yule and Burnell's Anglo-Indian glossary, Englishmen first used it in the early factories of the Malay Archipelago; it then spread to India and other parts of the British Empire.^(Barnhart 1988) It was later used of the enclosed quarters of workers at South African diamond mines.^(Etymonline)^(DSAE)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 1679 – a European enclosure in the East.^(Barnhart 1988)
+ * 19th century – a mine workers' compound.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # An enclosed area containing a group of buildings, such as houses, a factory or a [[prison]] camp.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # ''(South Africa)'' Enclosed living quarters for mine workers.^(AHD)^(DSAE)
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[component]]
+ * [[composite]]
+ * [[compose]]
+ * [[position]]
+ * [[kampong]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}