sunshine English · revision 7264

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 1250}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsʌnʃaɪn/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[sun]] and [[shine]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) Old English had sunnanscīma, sunshine, while sunscīn meant a mirror.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The shining of the sun, fair weather: about 1250 in the OED, the mid-13th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Figuratively, brightness, cheerfulness or a beneficial influence is from the late 16th century (1593–95).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A spell of sunshine is from 1601.^(OED 1989) A happy person who brightens others' lives, and the familiar form of address ''sunshine'', are from 1942.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) US ''sunshine laws'', requiring open government meetings, are from 1972.^(Etymonline) The nickname ''Sunshine State'' was first claimed by New Mexico (1890) and is now usually Florida's.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1250 – the shining of the sun.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1593 – happiness, prosperity.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1601 – a sunny spell.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1942 – a cheerful person; a form of address.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1972 – sunshine law.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Direct light and warmth from the sun.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Cheerfulness, happiness or good fortune.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(British, informal)'' Used as a familiar form of address.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sunshiny]]

+ * [[sunshineless]]

+ * [[Sunshine State]]

+ * [[sunshine law]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sunbeam]]

+ * [[sun]]

+ * [[shine]]

+ * [[sunny]]

+ * [[sunlight]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}