lesbian English · revision 7414

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1567|origins=grc Λέσβος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈlɛz.bi.ən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from Latin [[m|la|Lesbius|t=of Lesbos]], from Greek [[m|grc|Λέσβιος|tr=Lésbios]], from [[m|grc|Λέσβος|tr=Lésbos]], the Greek island in the north-eastern Aegean,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) and [[-ian]].^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) The island was the home of Sappho, the lyric poet whose verse expressed affection for women.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of or relating to the island of Lesbos: 1601 in the OED and Barnhart, the 1590s in Etymonline;^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) MWU dates it to 1567.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Word Origins notes that little is known of Sappho's life, but the fragments of her poems express affection and admiration for women, so people came to associate her with female homosexuality.^(Cresswell 2021) Sappho's association with love between women dates in English writing to at least 1732,^(Etymonline) and Word Origins says she inspired lesbian and [[sapphic]] in the mid-18th century.^(Cresswell 2021) The adjective, relating to homosexuality between women, is in continuous use from 1890,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) lesbianism from 1870,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the noun, a homosexual woman, from 1925.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) Barnhart notes the lower-case form is first recorded in the 1960s.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1567 – of Lesbos (MWU).^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1601 – of Lesbos.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1732 – Sappho associated with love between women.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1870 – lesbianism.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1890 – relating to female homosexuality.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1925 – the noun.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A woman who is sexually or romantically attracted to other women.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relating to lesbians or lesbianism.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(Lesbian)'' Of or relating to the island of Lesbos.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lesbianism]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sapphic]]

+ * [[gay]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}