surveillance English · revision 7062

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1799|origins=la vigilo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /səˈveɪ.ləns/ ''(UK)''; /sɚˈveɪ.ləns/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|surveillance|t=oversight, a watch]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|fr|surveiller|t=to oversee, watch]], from sur-, over, and [[m|fr|veiller|t=to watch]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from Latin [[m|la|vigilo|alt=vigilāre|t=to keep watch]], from [[m|la|vigil|t=watchful]] (see [[vigil]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Watch kept over a person, especially a suspect: 1799 as a French word in English, 1802 as an English word.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Etymonline notes that the word seems to have come to English from the Terror in France, where surveillance committees were formed in every municipality in March 1793 to monitor suspects, outsiders and dissidents.^(Etymonline) Devices and vessels used for military or police surveillance are from 1947.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1793 – French surveillance committees.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1799 – in English, as a French word.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1802 – naturalized.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1947 – surveillance devices.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Close watch kept over someone or something, especially a suspected [[criminal]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[countersurveillance]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[surveil]]

+ * [[vigil]]

+ * [[vigilant]]

+ * [[reveille]]

+ * [[survey]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}