mundane English · revision 953

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /mʌnˈdeɪn/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|mondeine]], [[bor|fro|mondain|t=worldly]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|la-lat|mundānus|t=belonging to the world]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from [[la|mundus|t=world, universe]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) Latin ''mundus'' “world” was used to translate Greek ''kósmos'', and is identical in form with ''mundus'' “clean, elegant”, though the connection is uncertain.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of this world, earthly, as contrasted with heaven (about 1451 in Barnhart; 1475 in the OED).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Following ''mundus'' as a translation of ''kósmos'', the word also meant “cosmic, of the universe” (1642), as in ''mundane soul'' for the Platonic world-soul.^(OED 1989) In astrology it meant “relating to the horizon” (1687).^(OED 1989) The extended sense “ordinary, commonplace, dull” is recorded by 1850,^(Etymonline) and is now the most common.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1451 – of this world, earthly.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1642 – cosmic, of the universe.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1687 – in astrology, relating to the horizon.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1850 – dull, ordinary.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Commonplace, ordinary or dull, as in ''mundane daily tasks''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of or relating to this world rather than a spiritual one; [[worldly]] or [[secular]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of or relating to the universe; cosmic.^(OED 1989)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mundanely]]

+ * [[mundaneness]]

+ * [[mundanity]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cosmos]]

+ * [[worldly]]

+ * [[secular]]

+ * [[earthly]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}