bare English · revision 7001

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1000|origins=gem-pro *bazaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /bɛə/, /bɛː/ ''(UK)''; /bɛɹ/, /bɛɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|ang|bær|t=naked, uncovered]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[gem-pro|*bazaz]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) source also of German [[m|de|bar]], Old Norse [[m|non|berr]] and Dutch [[m|nl|baar]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from PIE [[ine-pro|*bʰosós|alt=*bhoso-|t=naked]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) also the source of Lithuanian [[m|lt|basas|t=barefoot]], Old Church Slavonic bosŭ and Armenian bok, naked.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of the body, unclothed, naked: before 1000 in the OED, about 725 in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of natural objects such as earth and trees, without their covering, is from about 885,^(OED 1989) and figuratively unconcealed from about 950.^(OED 1989) Lacking proper furniture or equipment is from about 1200,^(OED 1989) and ''sheer, absolute'', as in ''the bare necessities'', from about 1200, from the notion of ''complete in itself''.^(Etymonline) The verb, to uncover, is Old English barian.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) [[barely|alt=Barely]] is from about 950.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 885 – of the earth, uncovered.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1000 – naked.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 950 – barely.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – mere, sheer.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1200 – unfurnished.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Without clothing or covering; [[naked]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Without the usual furnishings or contents; [[empty]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Plain and simple, without addition: ''the bare facts''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Just enough; minimal: ''the bare minimum''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To uncover or reveal: ''bared its teeth''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bareness]]

+ * [[barish]]

+ * [[bare-root]]

+ * [[barefisted]]

+ * [[bareback]]

+ * [[bareboat]]

+ * [[barefaced]]

+ * [[barefoot]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[barely]]

+ * [[bear]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}