combine English · revision 7555

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1420|origins=la-lat combino}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkɒm.baɪn/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English combynen, [[bor|frm|combiner]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) from Late Latin [[m|la-lat|combino|alt=combīnāre|t=to join two by two, yoke together]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) from com-, together, and [[m|la|bini|alt=bīnī|t=two by two]] (see [[binary]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from PIE [[ine-pro|*dwóh₁|alt=*dwo-|t=two]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To unite or join two or more things together: before 1420, in Lydgate's ''Troy Book'';^(Barnhart 1988) about 1440 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To join persons in action is from 1503,^(OED 1989) and to combine efforts or forces from 1529.^(OED 1989) To unite into one substance, especially chemically, is from 1799,^(OED 1989) and the intransitive, to come together into one body, from 1712.^(Etymonline) To unite distinct qualities is from 1827.^(OED 1989) The noun was used for a conspiracy about 1600, became obsolete,^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) and was revived in American English in 1886–87 for a combination of persons, especially for fraudulent purposes.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) The harvesting machine is from 1910 in Barnhart and 1900 in Etymonline, short for combine harvester,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and the verb, to harvest with one, from 1926, stressed on the first syllable.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1420 – to unite.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1600 – a conspiracy (noun).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1712 – to coalesce.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1799 – to unite chemically.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1887 – an alliance of persons.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1910 – the harvesting machine.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1926 – to harvest.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To bring or come together into one; to [[merge]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To join substances to make a single substance, such as a chemical [[compound]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To have or show together: ''to combine charm with skill''.^(AHD)

+ # To join forces for a common purpose.^(AHD)

+ # To harvest grain with a combine.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A machine that cuts, [[thresh|alt=threshes]] and cleans grain; a [[combine harvester]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # An association of people or firms for commercial or political ends.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[combiner]]

+ * [[combinable]]

+ * [[intercombine]]

+ * [[precombine]]

+ * [[noncombining]]

+ * [[combination]]

+ * [[combinatory]]

+ * [[combined]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[binary]]

+ * [[binocular]]

+ * [[bin-]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}