Online Etymology Dictionary

mode (2): "current fashion," 1640s, from Fr. mode, from L. modus "manner" (see mode (1)).
moderate (adj.): late 14c., from L. moderatus, pp. of moderari "to regulate." Related to modus "measure" (see mode (1)), hence, "keeping within due measure." The verb is attested from early 15c. in the sense "to abate excessiveness;" meaning "to preside over a debate" is first attested 1570s.
modesty: 1530s, "freedom from exaggeration, self-control," from M.Fr. modestie, from L. modestia "moderation," from modestus "moderate, keeping measure, sober," from modus "measure, manner" (see mode (1)). Meaning "having a moderate opinion of oneself" is from 1550s.
mode (1): "manner," late 14c., "kind of musical scale," from L. modus "measure, rhythm, song, manner" (in L.L. also "mood" in grammar and logic), from PIE base *med-/*met- "to measure, limit, consider, advise, take appropriate measures" (cf. L. meditari "to think or reflect upon, consider," mederi "to look after, heal, cure;" O.E. metan "to measure out," Gk. medein "to rule"). Meaning "manner in which a thing is done" first recorded 1667.
modern: "of or pertaining to present or recent times," c.1500, from M.Fr. moderne, from L.L. modernus "modern," from L. modo "just now, in a (certain) manner," from modo "to the measure," abl. of modus "manner, measure" (see mode (1)). In Shakespeare, often with a sense of "every-day, ordinary, commonplace." Slang abbreviation mod first attested 1960. Modern art is from 1807 (by contrast to ancient); modern dance first attested 1912; first record of modern jazz is from 1955. Modern conveniences first recorded 1926.
model: 1570s, "architect's set of designs," from M.Fr. modelle (Fr. modèle), from It. modello "a model, mold," from V.L. *modellus, dim. of L. modulus "measure, standard," dim. of modus "manner, measure" (see mode (1)). Sense of "thing or person to be imitated" is 1630s. Meaning "motor vehicle of a particular design" is from 1900 (e.g. Model T, 1909). Sense of "artist's model" is first recorded 1691; that of "fashion model" is from 1904. The verb is 1665 in the sense of "fashion in clay or wax;" 1915 in the sense "to act as a model, to display (clothes)." Related: Modeled; modeling; modelled; modelling. The adj. is 1844, from the noun.
a la mode: 1640s, from Fr. à la mode (15c.), lit. "in the fashion" (see mode (2)). In 17c., sometimes nativized as all-a-mode. Cookery sense of a dessert served with ice cream is 1903, Amer.Eng.
modal: 1560s, term in logic, from M.Fr. modal, from M.L. modalis "of or pertaining to a mode," from L. modus "measure, manner, mode" (see mode (1)). Musical sense is from 1590s.
style (n.): c.1300, stile, "designation, title, manner or mode of expression," from O.Fr. estile "a stake, pale," from L. stilus "stake, instrument for writing, manner of writing, mode of expression," from PIE *sti-lo-, from base *sti- "point, prick, pierce" (see stick (v.)). Spelling modified by influence of Gk. stylos "pillar." Meaning "mode or fashion of life" is from 1770; that of "mode of dress" is from 1814. Stylish is first recorded 1797 in "Sense and Sensibility" (the adj. good is understood); and stylize is 1898, from Ger. stilisieren.
dissipation: "intemperate mode of living," 1784; see dissipate.
modus operandi: "way of doing or accomplishing," 1650s, L., lit. “mode of operating” (see modus).
Anschauung: "sense-perception," c.1856, from Ger., "mode of view," lit. "looking at," from anschauen "to look at," from M.H.G. aneschouwen (related to show (v.)). A term in Kantian philosophy.
raga: 1788, from Skt. raga-s "harmony, melody, mode in music," lit. "color, mood," related to rajyati "it is dyed."
outmoded: "no longer in fashion, out of date," 1903, from out + mode (q.v.), perhaps formed on model of Fr. démoder.
modist: “follower of fashion,” 1837, from mode (2) + -ist.
jussive: "grammatical mode expressing command," 1846, from L. jussus, pp. of jubere "to bid, command."
pronunciation: 1430, "mode in which a word is pronounced," from L. pronuntiationem (nom. pronuntiatio) "act of speaking," also "proclamation," noun of action from pronuntiare "announce" (see pronounce).
Dorian: c.1600, in reference to the mode of ancient Gk. music, lit. "of Doris," from Gk. Doris, district in central Greece, traditionally named for Doros, legendary ancestor of the Dorians, whose name is probably related to doron "gift."
ornithopter: 1908, from Fr. ornithoptère, a machine designed to fly be mechanical flapping of wings, from ornitho- (q.v.) + Gk. pteron "wing" (see petition). A mode of flight considered promising at least since Leonardo's day.
jargon: mid-14c., "unintelligible talk, gibberish," from O.Fr. jargon "a chattering" (of birds), ultimately of echoic origin (cf. L. garrire "to chatter," Eng. gargle). Often applied to something the speaker does not understand, hence meaning "mode of speech full of unfamiliar terms" (1650s).
modish: 1650s, from mode (2) + -ish. “Very common in 17-18 c.; now somewhat arch.” [OED].
Jamesian: "of or in the mode of James," 1875 in ref. to William James (1842-1910) U.S. philosopher and exponent of pragmatism; 1905 in ref. to his brother Henry James (1843-1916), U.S. expatriate novelist.
Phrygian: c.1490, "native of Phrygia," region in ancient Asia Minor; Phrygian mode in Gk. music theory is from 1579. Phrygian cap (1796) was the type adopted by freed slaves in Roman times, and subsequently identified as the cap of Liberty.
mood (2): "grammatical form indicating the function of a verb," 1569, an alteration of mode (1), but the grammatical and musical (1597) usages of it influenced the meaning of mood (1) in phrases such as light-hearted mood.
modus: "way in which anything is done," 1640s, from L., lit. "measure, manner" (see mode (1)). Esp. in modus operandi and modus vivendi (1879) "way of living or getting along."
modicum: "small quantity or portion," c.1470, from Scottish, from L. modicum "a little," neut. of modicus "moderate," from modus "measure, manner" (see mode (1)).
costume: 1715, art term, from Fr., from It., from L. consuetudo "custom," and essentially the same word as custom but arriving by a different etymology. From "customary clothes of the particular period in which the scene is laid," meaning broadened by 1818 to "any defined mode of dress." Costume jewelry is first attested 1933.
module: 1586, "allotted measure," from M.Fr. module, from L. modulus "small measure," dim. of modus "measure, manner" (see mode (1)). Meaning "interchangeable part" first recorded 1955; that of "separate section of a spacecraft" is from 1961.
art (n.): early 13c., "skill as a result of learning or practice," from O.Fr. art, from L. artem (nom. ars) "art, skill, craft," from PIE *ar-ti- (cf. Skt. rtih "manner, mode;" Gk. arti "just," artios "complete;" Armenian arnam "make;" Ger. art "manner, mode"), from base *ar- "fit together, join" (see arm (1)). In M.E. usually with sense of "skill in scholarship and learning" (c.1300), especially in the seven sciences, or liberal arts. This sense remains in Bachelor of Arts, etc. Meaning "human workmanship" (as opposed to nature) is from late 14c. Sense of "cunning and trickery" first attested c.1600. Meaning "skill in creative arts" is first recorded 1620; esp. of painting, sculpture, etc., from 1660s. Broader sense of the word remains in artless (1580s). As an adj. meaning "produced with conscious artistry (as opposed to popular or folk) it is attested from 1890, possibly from infl. of Ger. kunstlied "art song" (cf. art film, 1960; art rock, c.1970). Fine arts, "those which appeal to the mind and the imagination" first recorded 1767. Expression art for art's sake (1836) translates Fr. l'art pour l'art. First record of art critic is from 1865. Arts and crafts "decorative design and handcraft" first attested in the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society, founded in London, 1888.
"Supreme art is a traditional statement of certain heroic and religious truths, passed on from age to age, modified by individual genius, but never abandoned. The revolt of individualism came because the tradition had become degraded, or rather because a spurious copy had been accepted in its stead." [William Butler Yeats]
mold (1): "hollow shape," 12c., metathesized from O.Fr. modle (Fr. moule), from L. modulum (nom. modulus) "measure, model," dim. of modus "manner" (see mode (1)). Related: Molded. To break the mold "render impossible the creation of another" is from 1560s.
modify: late 14c., from O.Fr. modifier, from L. modificare "to limit, restrain," from modus "measure, manner" (see mode (1)) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Related: Modified; modifying.
crucify: c.1300, from O.Fr. crucifer, from V.L. *crucificare, from L.L. crucifigere "to fasten to a cross," from cruci, dat. of L. crux "cross" + figere "fasten" (see fix). An ancient mode of capital punishment considered especially ignominious by the Romans.
beg: early 13c., perhaps from O.E. bedecian "to beg," from P.Gmc. *beth-; or possibly from Anglo-Fr. begger, from O.Fr. begart (see beggar). The O.E. word for "beg" was wædlian, from wædl "poverty." Of trained dogs, 1816. As a courteous mode of asking (beg pardon, etc.), first attested c.1600. To beg the question translates L. petitio principii, and means "to assume something that hasn't been proven as a basis of one's argument," thus "asking" one's opponent to give something unearned, though more of the nature of taking it for granted without warrant.
edition: 1550s, "act of publishing," from L. editionem (nom. editio) "a bringing forth, producing," from stem of edere "bring forth, produce," from ex- "out" + -dere, comb. form of dare "to give" (see date (1)). Meaning "form of a literary work" is from 1560s. "It is awkward to speak of, e.g. 'The second edition of Campbell's edition of Plato's "Theætetus"'; but existing usage affords no satisfactory substitute for this inconvenient mode of expression" [OED].
accent: 1530s, "particular mode of pronunciation," from M.Fr. accent, from O.Fr. acent (13c.), from L. accentus "song added to speech," from ad- "to" + cantus "a singing," pp. of canere "to sing" (see chant). Loan-translation of Gk. prosoidia, from pros- "to" + oide "song," which apparently described the pitch scheme in Gk. verse. The decorating sense of "something that emphasizes or highlights" is from 1972. The verb meaning "to pronounce with accent or stress" is first recorded 1530.
pronounce: early 14c., "to utter, declare officially," from O.Fr. pronuncier (late 13c.), from L.L. pronunciare, from L. pronuntiare "to proclaim, announce, pronounce," from pro- "forth, out, in public" + nuntiare "announce," from nuntius "messenger" (see nuncio). With ref. to the mode of sounding words or languages, it is attested from c.1620 (but cf. pronunciation in this sense early 15c.). Pronounced, with the fig. meaning "emphatic," first attested c.1730.
condition: early 14c., from O.Fr. condition, from L. condicionem (nom. condicio) "agreement, situation," from condicere "to speak with, talk together," from com- "together" + dicere "to speak" (see diction). Evolution of meaning through "stipulation, condition," to "situation, mode of being." The verb meaning "to bring to a desired condition" is from 1850.
contrive: early 14c., from O.Fr. controver "to find out, contrive, imagine," from V.L. contropare "to compare" (via a figure of speech), from L. com- "with" + tropus "song, musical mode," from Gk. tropos "figure of speech" (see trope). Sense evolution (in French) was from "invent with ingenuity" to "invent falsely." Related: Contrived (c.1400); contriving (early 14c.); contrivance (1620s).
constitution: 1580s, "action of establishing," from Fr. constitution (12c.), from L. constitutionem (nom. constitutio) "act of settling, settled condition, anything arranged or settled upon, regulation, order, ordinance," from constitutus (see constitute). Used earlier (late 14c.) in now-obsolete sense "decree, ordaining." Meaning "way in which a thing is constituted" is from c.1600; that of "physical health, strength and vigor of the body" is from 1550s; of the mind, "temperament, character" from 1580s. Sense of "mode of organization of a state" is from c.1610; that of "system of principles by which a community is governed" dates from 1730s; esp. of a document of written laws since the U.S. and French constitutions, late 18c.
sect: c.1300, "distinctive system of beliefs or observances; party or school within a religion," from O.Fr. secte, from L.L. secta "religious group, sect," from L. secta "manner, mode, following, school of thought," lit. "a way, road," from fem. of sectus, variant pp. of sequi "follow," from PIE *sekw- "to follow" (see sequel). Confused in this sense with L. secta, fem. pp. of secare "to cut" (see section). Meaning "separately organized religious body" is recorded from 1577. Sectarian first recorded 1649, originally applied by Presbyterians to Independents, from M.L. sectarius, from secta.
ordeal: O.E. ordel, lit. "judgment, verdict," from P.Gmc. noun *uzdailjam (cf. O.Fris. urdel, Du. oordeel, Ger. urteil "judgment"), lit. "that which is dealt out" (by the gods), from *uzdailijan "share out," related to O.E. adælan "to deal out" (see deal). The notion is of the kind of arduous physical test (such as walking blindfolded and barefoot between red-hot plowshares) that was believed to determine a person's guilt or innocence by immediate judgment of the deity, an ancient Teutonic mode of trial. Eng. retains a more exact sense of the word; its cognates in Ger., etc., have been generalized. Curiously absent in M.E., and perhaps reborrowed 16c. from M.L. or M.Fr., which got it from Gmc. Metaphoric extension to "anything which tests character or endurance" is attested from 1658. The prefix or- survives in Eng. only in this word, but was common in O.E. and other Gmc. languages (Goth. ur-, O.N. or-, etc.) and was originally an adv. and prep. meaning "out."
Ionian: "of Ionia," the districts of ancient Greece inhabited by the Ionians (including Attica and the north coast of the Peloponnesus, but especially the coastal strip of Asia Minor, including the islands of Samos and Chios). The name probably is pre-Gk., perhaps related to Skt. yoni "womb, vulva," and a ref. to goddess-worshipping people. Also used of the sea that lies between Italy and the northern Peloponnesus (1632). The musical Ionian mode (1844) corresponds to our basic major scale but was characterized by the Greeks as soft and effeminate. The Ionic order of Gk. architecture is attested from 1563.
"The Ionians delighted in wanton dances and songs more than the rest of the Greeks ... and wanton gestures were proverbially termed Ionic motions." [Thomas Robinson, "Archæologica Græca," 1807]
music: mid-13c., from O.Fr. musique (12c.), from L. musica, from Gk. mousike techne "art of the Muses," from fem. of mousikos "pertaining to the Muses," from Mousa "Muse." In classical Greece, any art in which the Muses presided, but especially music. The use of letters to denote music notes is probably at least from ancient Greece, as their numbering system was ill-suited to the job. Natural scales begin at C (not A) because in ancient times the minor mode was more often used than the major one. The natural minor scale begins at A. To face the music "accept the consequences" is from 1850; the exact image is uncertain, one theory ties it to stage performers, another to cavalry horses having to be taught to stay calm while the regimental band plays. To make (beautiful) music with someone "have sexual intercourse" is from 1967. Musicology "the study of the science of music" is from 1909.
fashion (n.): c.1300, "shape, manner, mode," from O.Fr. façon, from L. factionem (nom. factio) "group of people acting together," lit. "a making or doing," from facere "to make" (see factitious). Sense of "prevailing custom" is from late 15c.; that of "style of attire" is from 1520s. The verb is first recorded early 15c. Related: Fashioned; fashioning.
"To call a fashion wearable is the kiss of death. No new fashion worth its salt is wearable." [Eugenia Sheppard, "New York Herald Tribune," Jan. 13, 1960]
Fashion plate (1851) originally was "full-page picture in a popular magazine showing the prevailing or latest style of dress," in ref. to the "plate" from which it was printed. Transf. sense of "well-dressed person" had emerged by 1920s.
author: c.1300, autor "father," from O.Fr. auctor, from L. auctorem (nom. auctor) "enlarger, founder, master, leader," lit. "one who causes to grow," agent noun from auctus, pp. of augere "to increase" (see augment). Meaning "one who sets forth written statements" is from late 14c. The -t- changed to -th- on mistaken assumption of Gk. origin. The verb is attested from 1590s.
"...[W]riting means revealing onesself to excess .... This is why one can never be alone enough when one writes, why even night is not night enough. ... I have often thought that the best mode of life for me would be to sit in the innermost room of a spacious locked cellar with my writing things and a lamp. Food would be brought and always put down far away from my room, outside the cellar's outermost door. The walk to my food, in my dressing gown, through the vaulted cellars, would be my only exercise. I would then return to my table, eat slowly and with deliberation, then start writing again at once. And how I would write! From what depths I would drag it up!" [Franz Kafka]
Related: Authorial (1796).
nigger: 1786, earlier neger (1568, Scot. and northern England dialect), from Fr. nègre, from Sp. negro (see Negro). From the earliest usage it was "the term that carries with it all the obloquy and contempt and rejection which whites have inflicted on blacks" [cited in Gowers, 1965]. But as black inferiority was at one time a near universal assumption in Eng.-speaking lands, the word in some cases could be used without deliberate insult. More sympathetic writers late 18c. and early 19c. seem to have used black (n.) and, after the American Civil War, colored person. Also applied by Eng. settlers to dark-skinned native peoples in India, Australia, Polynesia. The reclamation of the word as a neutral or positive term in black culture, often with a suggestion of "soul" or "style," is attested first in the Amer. South, later (1968) in the Northern, urban-based Black Power movement. Variant niggah, attested from 1925 (without the -h, from 1969), is found usually in situations where blacks use the word. Nigra (1944), on the other hand, reflects a pronunciation in certain circles of Negro, but meant to suggest nigger, and is thus deemed (according to a 1960 slang dictionary) "even more derog. than 'nigger.' " Slang phrase nigger in the woodpile attested by 1800; "A mode of accounting for the disappearance of fuel; an unsolved mystery" [R.H. Thornton, "American Glossary," 1912]. Nigger heaven, "the top gallery in a (segregated) theater" first attested 1878 in ref. to Troy, N.Y.
" 'You're a fool nigger, and the worst day's work Pa ever did was to buy you,' said Scarlett slowly. ... There, she thought, I've said 'nigger' and Mother wouldn't like that at all." [Margaret Mitchell, "Gone With the Wind," 1936]
Used in combinations (e.g. nigger-brown, nigger-head, nigger-toe) since 1840s for various dark brown or black hues or objects; euphemistic substitutions (e.g. Zulu) began to appear in these senses c.1917.