duo English · revision 7960

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1590|origins=la duo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdjuː.əʊ/, /ˈd͡ʒuː.əʊ/ ''(UK)''; /ˈdu.oʊ/, /ˈdju.oʊ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|it|duo|t=duet]], possibly through French duo,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Latin [[m|la|duo|t=two]] (see [[two]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from PIE [[ine-pro|*dwóh₁|alt=*dwo-|t=two]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A song for two voices, a duet: 1590 (the 1580s in Etymonline).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A pair in general is first recorded in English in 1802,^(Barnhart 1988) and two people, especially a pair of entertainers, from 1887.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Collins gives the plural as duos or dui.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1590 – a duet.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1802 – a pair.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1887 – a pair of entertainers.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A pair of performers, or a piece of music for two; a [[duet]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A pair of entertainers or of closely associated people.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[duet]]

+ * [[dual]]

+ * [[two]]

+ * [[double]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}