stalwart English · revision 885

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈstɔːl.wət/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a Scottish variant of [[inh|enm|stalworth]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[inh|ang|stǣlwierþe|t=serviceable, good]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) probably a contraction of ''*staþolwierþe'' “steadfast”, from ''staþol'' “foundation, support” and ''wierþe'' “worthy”, the source of [[worth]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) Barnhart and Etymonline also mention an alternative derivation from Old English ''stæl'' “place”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of things, firmly made or established; of fighting, stoutly contested; of persons, resolute (1375).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “strongly built, sturdy, robust” dates from about 1450,^(OED 1989) and “valiant, courageous” from about 1375.^(OED 1989) Both ''stalwart'' and ''stalworth'' were revived by Walter Scott.^(Etymonline) The noun, “a strong and valiant man”, dates from about 1470.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) In American politics of 1877 to the 1880s ''Stalwarts'' were the uncompromising conservative faction of the Republican Party,^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) whence the general sense of a steadfast supporter of a party or cause.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 896 – Old English ''stǣlwierþe'', serviceable.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1375 – resolute; firmly established.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1450 – strongly built, sturdy.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1470 – noun, a strong, valiant person.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1877 – the Stalwart Republicans.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Strongly and sturdily built; physically strong.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Firm, resolute and loyal, as in ''a stalwart supporter''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Brave; [[valiant]].^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A steadfast supporter of an organization or cause, as in ''party stalwarts''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A physically and morally strong person.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[stalwartly]]

+ * [[stalwartness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stalworth]]

+ * [[worth]]

+ * [[steadfast]]

+ * [[staunch]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}