collapse English · revision 6978

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=back-formation|attested=1732|origins=la collabor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kəˈlæps/, /klæps/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a back-formation from collapsed (early 17th century), from medical Latin [[m|la|collapsus]],^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002) the past participle of [[m|la|collabor|alt=collābī|t=to fall together]], from [[m|la|com-|t=together]] and [[m|la|labor|alt=lābī|t=to fall, slip]] (see [[lapse]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) Barnhart and MWU take it directly from the Latin participle.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To fall together, as the sides of a hollow body: 1732.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adjective collapsed is from about 1600, at first of people fallen from a religious state.^(Etymonline) The figurative ''to come to nothing, fail'' is from 1801.^(Etymonline) The noun, a falling in, originally of the lungs, is from 1792;^(Etymonline) in a mental sense, a breakdown of energy or spirits, from 1801,^(OED 1989) physical prostration from 1808,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and the sudden failure of an institution or enterprise from 1856.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The transitive ''to cause to collapse'' is from 1883,^(Etymonline) and [[collapsible]] from 1843.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1600 – collapsed.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1732 – to fall together.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1792 – the noun.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1801 – a mental breakdown; to fail.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1856 – the failure of an institution.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To fall down or inwards suddenly.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To fail or break down suddenly and completely.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To fall down through illness or exhaustion.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To fold into a smaller shape.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A sudden falling in or down.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A sudden failure or [[breakdown]], as of a business or of health.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[collapsibility]]

+ * [[collapsible]]

+ * [[uncollapsed]]

+ * [[collapsar]]

+ * [[precollapse]]

+ * [[gravitational collapse]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lapse]]

+ * [[relapse]]

+ * [[elapse]]

+ * [[sleep]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}