portfolio English · revision 7453

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1719|origins=it portafoglio}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pɔːtˈfəʊ.liˌəʊ/, /-əʊl.jəʊ/ ''(UK)''; /poɹtˈfoʊ.liˌoʊ/, /-oʊl.joʊ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is an alteration of earlier port folio and porto folio, [[bor|it|portafoglio|t=a case for carrying loose papers]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|it|porta]], the imperative of portare, to carry (from Latin [[m|la|porto|alt=portāre]]), and [[m|it|foglio|t=leaf, sheet]], from Latin [[m|la|folium|t=leaf]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A movable case for loose papers or prints: 1719 as port folio, 1722 as porto folio in Etymonline and the OED;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) the modern spelling is from 1806–07.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A case holding the official documents of a state department is from 1835, and hence figuratively the office of a minister of state;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) a ''minister without portfolio'' is one not in charge of a particular department.^(Etymonline) A collection of securities held by an investor is from 1930, and ''portfolio investment'' from 1955.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A set of samples of an artist's or designer's work followed.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1719 – port folio, a case for papers.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1806 – the spelling portfolio.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1835 – a minister's office.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1930 – a collection of investments.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A large, thin, flat case for carrying loose papers, drawings or maps.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A set of pieces of creative work collected to show someone's ability.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A range of investments held by a person or organization.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The office and duties of a government minister.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A range of products or services offered by a company.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[minister without portfolio]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[folio]]

+ * [[foil]]

+ * [[portable]]

+ * [[port]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}