ethics English · revision 7003

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1602|origins=grc ἦθος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɛθ.ɪks/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the plural of Middle English ethik, the study of morals (see [[ethic]]), modelled on Greek [[m|grc|τὰ ἠθικά|tr=tà ēthiká|t=ethics]], the title of Aristotle's work.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Weekley 1921) Ethik is [[bor|fro|ethique]], from Late Latin ēthica and Latin ēthicē, from Greek [[m|grc|ἠθικός|tr=ēthikós|t=ethical]], from [[m|grc|ἦθος|tr=êthos|t=moral character]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Weekley 1921)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The science of morals: 1602 in Barnhart, about 1600 in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The singular ethik is about 1386, in Chaucer.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adjective [[ethical]] is from 1607.^(Barnhart 1988) The sense ''a set of moral principles'', especially those of a particular group or profession, followed.^(COED 2004)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1386 – ethik, in Chaucer.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1602 – ethics.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1607 – ethical.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(used with a singular verb)'' The branch of [[philosophy]] that studies the principles of right and wrong conduct.^(COED 2004)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(used with a plural verb)'' The moral principles that govern a person's or group's behaviour.^(COED 2004)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The moral correctness of something: ''the ethics of cloning''.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ethicist]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ethic]]

+ * [[ethical]]

+ * [[ethos]]

+ * [[ethology]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}