lecture English · revision 7315

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1300|origins=la lego}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈlɛk.t͡ʃə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈlɛk.t͡ʃɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|lecture]], and directly Medieval Latin [[m|la-med|lectura|t=a reading]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from Latin lectus, past participle of [[m|la|lego|alt=legere|t=to read]], originally to gather, pick out (see [[legend]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from PIE [[ine-pro|*leǵ-|alt=*leg-|t=to collect, gather]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Literature, written works: probably before 1300, in ''Kyng Alisaunder'';^(Barnhart 1988) reading, learning from books, late 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The action of reading, or that which is read, is the OED's first sense (1398),^(OED 1989) and reading aloud, in worship or to students, is from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) Trench notes that ''lecture'' and ''reading'' were once synonyms, and quotes Coverdale's ''after the lecture of the law and of the prophets'' (Acts 13:15).^(Trench 1859) A discourse on a subject before an audience is from 1536, probably after Middle French (1498).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) A reproof is from about 1600, in Shakespeare's ''As You Like It''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The verb, to give lectures, is from about 1590,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) and to scold, 1706.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – literature.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1398 – the action of reading.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1536 – a discourse to an audience.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1590 – the verb.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1600 – a reprimand.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1706 – to scold.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A talk on a subject given to an [[audience]] or class, to [[instruct]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A long, earnest [[reprimand]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give a lecture or lectures.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To reprove someone at length.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lectureship]]

+ * [[lecturer]]

+ * [[curtain lecture]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[analects]]

+ * [[lectern]]

+ * [[lection]]

+ * [[lesson]]

+ * [[legend]]

+ * [[read]]

+ * [[elect]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}