word

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Usage notes 1.3.2 Synonyms 1.3.3 Translations 1.4 Verb 1.4.1 Synonyms 1.4.2 Translations 1.5 Interjection 1.6 Derived terms 1.7 See also 1.8 Anagrams 2 Dutch 2.1 Pronunciation 2.2 Verb 3 Old English 3.1 Etymology 3.2 Pronunciation 3.3 Noun

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

From Middle English < Old English word < Proto-Germanic *wurða- < Proto-Indo-European *werə- (“‘to speak’”).

[edit] Pronunciation

Wikipedia

• (RP) IPA: /wɜːd/, SAMPA: /w3:d/
• (US) enPR: wûrd, IPA: /wɝd/, SAMPA: /w3`d/

   Audio (US)^{help, file}

  Rhymes: -ɜː(r)d

[edit] Noun

word (plural words)

1. (linguistics) A distinct unit of language (sounds in speech or written letters) with a particular meaning, composed of one or more morphemes, and also of one or more phonemes that determine its sound pattern.
   • 1594, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, II.ii

     Polonius: What do you read, my lord?

     Hamlet: Words, words, words.

2. A distinct unit of language which is approved by some authority.
   • 1896, Israel Zangwill, Without Prejudice, p21

     “Ain’t! How often am I to tell you ain’t ain’t a word?”

   • 1999, Linda Greenlaw, The Hungry Ocean, Hyperion, p11

     Fisherwoman isn’t even a word. It’s not in the dictionary.

3. Something promised.

   I give you my word that I will be there on time.

4. News; tidings.

   Have you had any word from John yet?

5. A discussion.

   I want to have a word with you.

6. (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) (music) Spoken-word poetry accompanied by one or two musical instruments and performed as a unit.
7. (telegraphy) A unit of text equivalent to five characters and one space.
8. (computing) A numerical value with a bit width native to the machine.
9. (group theory) A group element, expressed as a product of group elements.
10. (computer science) A finite string which is not a command or operator.
11. (theology, sometimes Word) God.
    • See Bible, King James, John 1
12. (theology, sometimes Word) The Bible.

[edit] Usage notes

• (distinct unit of language): In English and other space-delimited languages, it is customary to treat "word" as referring to any sequence of characters delimited by spaces. However, this is not applicable to languages such as Chinese and Japanese, which are normally written without spaces, or to languages such as Vietnamese, which are written with a space between each syllable.

[edit] Synonyms

• (distinct unit of language): vocable
• (something promised): promise
• (God): God, Logos
• (Bible): word of God, Bible
• See also Wikisaurus:word

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to word (third-person singular simple present words, present participle wording, simple past and past participle worded)

1. (transitive) To say or write (something) using particular words.

   I’m not sure how to word this letter to the council.

[edit] Synonyms

• (say or write using particular words): express, phrase, put into words, state

[edit] Translations

[edit] Interjection

word!

1. (slang, emphatic, stereotypically urban) An abbreviated form of word up; a statement of the acknowledgment of fact with a hint of nonchalant approval.
   • 2004, Shannon Holmes, Never Go Home Again: A Novel, page 218

     " […] Know what I'm sayin'?" / "Word!" the other man strongly agreed. "Let's do this — "

   • 2007, Gabe Rotter, Duck Duck Wally: A Novel, page 105

     " […] Not bad at all, man. Worth da wait, dawg. Word." / "You liked it?" I asked dumbly, stoned still, and feeling victorious. / "Yeah, man," said Oral B. "Word up. […] "

   • 2007, Relentless Aaron The Last Kingpin, page 34

     " […] I mean, I don't blame you. That's a lotta ass to be satisfied! Word! […] "

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] See also

• allomorph
• compound word
• grapheme
• idiom
• lexeme
• listeme
• morpheme
• orthographic
• phrase
• set phrase
• syllable
• term

[edit] Anagrams

• Alphagram: dorw

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[edit] Dutch

[edit] Pronunciation

•  audio^{help, file}

[edit] Verb

word

1. The first-person singular present tense of worden.
2. The imperative of worden.

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[edit] Old English

[edit] Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *wurða- < Proto-Indo-European *werdho- (“‘word’”) < Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“‘speak’”); cognate with Old Frisian word, Old Saxon word (Dutch woord), Old High German wort (German Wort), Old Norse orð (Icelandic orð, Swedish ord), Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌳 (waurd). The Proto-Indo-European root is also the source of Latin verbum, Lithuanian vardas, and, more distantly, of Ancient Greek εἴρω (eirō), “‘I say’”) and Old Slavonic rotiti sę (“‘to swear’”) (Russian ротиться (rotit’cja), “‘to vow’”)).

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /word/

[edit] Noun

word n. (plural word)

1. word
2. speech, utterance, statement
3. (grammar) verb
4. news, information, rumour
5. command, request