inflation English · revision 7491

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1340|origins=la inflo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪnˈfleɪ.ʃn̩/ ''(UK)''; /ɪnˈfleɪ.ʃən/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English inflacioun,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|la|inflatio|t=a puffing up, a blowing into, flatulence]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from the past participle stem of [[m|la|inflo|alt=inflāre|t=to blow into, puff up]] (see [[inflate]]),^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from in-, into, and flāre, to blow, which Watkins derives from PIE [[ine-pro|*bʰleh₁-|alt=*bhle-|t=to blow]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A swelling caused by wind in the body, flatulence: before 1340 in the OED, the mid-14th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Figuratively it also meant outbursts of pride,^(Etymonline) and the condition of being puffed up with vanity is from 1526.^(OED 1989) Inflated language is from 1603.^(OED 1989) The action of inflating with air or gas is from 1601.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Undue expansion, especially of the currency, is from 1838 in American English,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and NODE dates the economic sense to the mid-19th century.^(NODE 1998) In astronomy, the brief exponential expansion of the early universe is from 1981.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1340 – swelling with wind.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1526 – vanity.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1601 – inflating with air.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1838 – currency inflation.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1981 – in cosmology.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of inflating, or the state of being [[inflate|alt=inflated]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(economics)'' A continuing rise in the general level of [[price|alt=prices]], or fall in the [[purchasing]] power of money.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[anti-inflation]]

+ * [[disinflation]]

+ * [[hyperinflation]]

+ * [[inflationary]]

+ * [[inflationism]]

+ * [[inflationist]]

+ * [[overinflation]]

+ * [[reinflation]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[conflation]]

+ * [[deflation]]

+ * [[inflate]]

+ * [[reflation]]

+ * [[flatulent]]

+ * [[blow]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}