treasure English · revision 7072

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1137|origins=grc θησαυρός}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈtɹɛʒəɹ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English tresor, [[bor|fro|tresor|t=treasury, hoard, treasure]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Gallo-Roman *tresaurus, an unexplained alteration of Latin [[m|la|thesaurus|t=treasury, treasure]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Greek [[m|grc|θησαυρός|tr=thēsaurós|t=treasure, store, storehouse]] (see [[thesaurus]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) of uncertain origin.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Wealth or riches stored up: 1137, in the Peterborough Chronicle, in Barnhart, the mid-12th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old English poets used goldhord and maðm for the idea.^(Etymonline) In Middle English the word was sometimes spelled thresur in imitation of the classical form, and the modern spelling was established from the 16th century.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Anything valued is from about 1200, originally in spiritual senses, and a person held dear from about 1300.^(Etymonline) The verb, to amass treasure and to regard as precious, is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) [[treasure trove|alt=Treasure trove]] first meant valuables of unknown ownership found hidden.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1137 – stored wealth.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – anything valued.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – a person held dear.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – the verb.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A quantity of precious metals, gems or other valuable objects.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A very valuable object.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' A much loved or highly valued person.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To value highly; to [[cherish]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To keep carefully as precious.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[treasurable]]

+ * [[treasureless]]

+ * [[entreasure]]

+ * [[treasure-trove]]

+ * [[treasurer]]

+ * [[treasury]]

+ * [[treasure house]]

+ * [[treasure hunt]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[thesaurus]]

+ * [[treasure trove]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}