pour English · revision 7841

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=c. 1300}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pɔː/, /poɹ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English pouren,^(MWU 2024) of unknown origin.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) Etymonline and Barnhart suggest a borrowing of Flemish dialect Old French purer, to sift grain, pour out water, from Latin [[m|la|puro|alt=pūrāre|t=to purify]], from pūrus, [[pure]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It replaced Old English gēotan.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To cause a liquid to flow in a stream: probably about 1300.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The intransitive sense, to flow in a stream, is from the 1530s.^(Etymonline) The noun, a pouring stream, is from 1790,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and figuratively a crowd streaming in or out from 1897.^(OED 1989) To rain heavily, and ''it never rains but it pours'', are among the senses Collins lists, with to serve tea or coffee.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – to send forth in a stream.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1530s – to flow.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1790 – the noun.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1897 – a stream of people.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make a [[liquid]] or granular substance flow from a container.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To flow or stream continuously.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To rain heavily.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To come or go in large numbers.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To serve a drink such as [[tea]] or [[coffee]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A pouring stream, especially a downpour of rain.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pourer]]

+ * [[pourable]]

+ * [[pouringly]]

+ * [[pourability]]

+ * [[repour]]

+ * [[unpoured]]

+ * [[downpour]]

+ * [[inpour]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pure]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}