soap English · revision 7048

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000|origins=gmw-pro *saipā}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /səʊp/ ''(UK)''; /soʊp/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English sope, [[inh|ang|sāpe|t=soap, salve]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from West Germanic *saipō,^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988) source also of Dutch [[m|nl|zeep]] and German [[m|de|Seife]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) perhaps from PIE [[ine-pro|*seyb-|t=to pour out, drip]], also perhaps the source of Latin [[m|la|sebum|t=tallow]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) Late Latin sapo, first mentioned by Pliny as a hair dye, is a Germanic loanword and gave French savon and Italian sapone.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A substance of oils or fats combined with alkali, used for washing: about 1000.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline says it was anciently a reddish hair dye used by Germanic warriors.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb, to rub with soap, is from 1585.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) Flattery is from 1853–54, compare ''soft soap'',^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and money, especially for bribery, is American slang from 1860.^(OED 1989) ''No soap'', a refusal or failure, is from 1926.^(OED 1989) The ''soap opera'', a radio or television serial, is American, from 1939, named after the soap manufacturers who sponsored early programmes,^(Barnhart 1988) and is shortened to ''soap''.^(AHD)^(COED 2004) The soapbox is recorded from 1660.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – soap.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1585 – to soap (verb).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1660 – soapbox.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1853 – flattery.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1926 – no soap.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1939 – soap opera.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A substance used with water for washing and cleaning, made of natural oils or fats combined with an [[alkali]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' A [[soap opera]].^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To wash or rub with soap.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[soapless]]

+ * [[soaplike]]

+ * [[soapfish]]

+ * [[sandsoap]]

+ * [[soapbark]]

+ * [[soapberry]]

+ * [[soapbox]]

+ * [[soapstone]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[soaper]]

+ * [[saponification]]

+ * [[soapy]]

+ * [[soap opera]]

+ * [[saponify]]

+ * [[sebum]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}