Online Etymology Dictionary

supply (n.): 1423, "assistance, relief," from supply (v.). Meaning "quantity or amount of something provided" is attested from 1607. In the political economy sense (corollary of demand) it dates from 1776. Supply-side in ref. to economic policy is attested from 1976. Supplies "provisions" is from c.1650.
supply (v.): late 14c., "to help, support, maintain," also "fill up, make up for," from O.Fr. supplier "fill up, make full," from L. supplere "fill up, complete," from sub "up from below" + plere "to fill" (see plenary). The meaning "furnish, provide" first recorded c.1520.
supplement: 1382, from L. supplementum "something added to supply a deficiency," from supplere (see supply). The verb is first recorded 1829.
stock (n.2): "supply for future use" (1428), "sum of money" (1463), M.E. developments of stock (n.1), but the ultimate sense connection is uncertain. Perhaps the notion is of the "trunk" from which gains are an outgrowth, or obs. sense of "money-box" (c.1400). Meaning "subscribed capital of a corporation" is from 1612. Stock-broker is from 1706; stock exchange is from 1773. The verb meaning "to supply (a store) with stock" is from 1622; in stock "in the possession of a trader" is from 1618. Meaning "broth made by boiling meat or vegetables" is from 1764. Theatrical use, in ref. to a company regularly acting together at a given theater, is attested from 1761. In ref. to conversation or literature, "recurring, commonplace" (e.g. stock phrase), it is attested from 1738, on notion of "kept in store for constant use." Taking stock "making an inventory" is attested from 1736. As the collective term for the movable property of a farm, it is recorded from 1519; hence livestock (1523).
rearm: 1870, from re- "back, again" + arm (v.) "to supply with arms."
stash (v.): "to conceal, hide," 1797, criminals' slang, of unknown origin, perhaps a blend of stow and cache. The noun meaning "hoard, cache" is 1914, from the verb. Slang sense of "personal supply of narcotics" is from 1942.
commissary: mid-14c., "one to whom special duty is entrusted by a higher power," from M.L. commissarius, from L. commissus "entrusted," pp. of committere (see commit). Originally ecclesiastical, the military sense of "official in charge of supply of food, stores, transport" dates to late 15c.
demand: late 13c., from O.Fr. demander "to request," from L. demandare "entrust, charge with a commission," from de- "completely" + mandare "to order." The political economy sense (correlating to supply) is first attested 1776 in Adam Smith.
self-sufficiency: 1623, originally an attribute of God (translating Gk. autakreia), from self + sufficiency. Of mortals, self-sufficient "able to supply one's own needs" is recorded from 1589.
provide: 1407, from L. providere "look ahead, prepare, supply," from pro- "ahead" + videre "to see" (see vision).
Mr.: 1447, abbreviation of master (q.v.). Used from 1814 with a following noun or adj., to denote "the exemplar or embodiment of that quality" (e.g. Mr. Right, 1922, first in James Joyce; Mr. Fix-It, 1925, first in Ring Lardner; Mr. Big, 1940, first in Groucho Marx). The pl. Messrs. (1779) is an abbreviation of Fr. messieurs, pl. of monsieur, used in Eng. to supply the pl. of Mr., which is lacking.
dingbat: 1838, Amer.Eng., "some kind of alcoholic drink," of unknown origin. One of that class of words (e.g. dingus, doohickey, gadget, gizmo, thingumabob) which are conjured up to supply names for items whose proper names are unknown or not recollected. Used at various periods for "money," "a professional tramp," "a muffin," "a typographical ornament," "male genitalia," "a Chinese," "an Italian," "a woman who is neither your sister nor your mother," and "a foolish person in authority." Popularized in sense of "foolish person" by TV show "All in the Family" (1971), though this usage dates from 1905.
foster (v.): O.E. *fostrian "to supply with food, nourish, support," from fostor "food, nourishment, bringing up," from P.Gmc. *fostrom, from root *foth-/*fod- (see food). Meaning "to bring up a child with parental care" is from c.1200; that of "to encourage or help grow" is early 13c. of things; 1560s of feelings, ideas, etc. O.E. also had the adj. meaning "in the same family but not related," in fostorfæder, etc.
synecdoche: 1388, "part for whole or vice versa," from M.L. synodoche, from L.L. synecdoche, from Gk. synekdokhe, lit. "a receiving together or jointly," from synekdekhesthai "supply a thought or word, take with something else," from syn- "with" + ek "out" + dekhesthai "to receive," related to dokein "seem good" (see decent). Figure in which an attribute or adjunct is substituted for the thing meant ("head" for "cattle," etc.).
store (v.): 1264, "to supply or stock," from O.Fr. estorer "erect, furnish, store," from L. instaurare "restore," from in- "in" + -staurare, from a noun cognate with Gk. stauros "pole, stake" (see steer (v.)). The meaning "to keep in store for future use" (1552) probably is a back-formation from store (n.). Storage is from 1612.
ventilate: c.1440, "to blow away something" (of wind), from L. ventilatus, pp. of ventilare "to brandish, toss in the air, winnow, fan, agitate, set in motion," from ventulus "a breeze," dim. of ventus "wind" (see wind (n.)). Original notion is of cleaning grain by tossing it in the air and letting the wind blow away the chaff. Meaning "supply a room with fresh air" first recorded 1664 (implied in ventilation). Slang sense of "to shoot" (someone) is recorded from 1875.
fill (v.): O.E. fyllan, from P.Gmc. *fullijan (cf. O.S. fulljan, O.N. fylla, O.Fris. fella, Du. vullen, Ger. füllen "to fill"), a derivative of adj. *fullaz "full." The related noun meaning "a full supply" is M.E. fille, from O.E. fylle. To fill the bill (1882) was originally U.S. theatrical slang, in reference to a star whose name would be the only one on a show's poster.
provender: 1306, "allowance paid each chapter member of a cathedral," from Anglo-Fr. provendir, O.Fr. provendier, from Gallo-Romance *provenda, alt. (by influence of L. providere "supply") from L.L. præbenda "allowance, subsistence," from L. præbenda "(things) to be furnished," neut. pl. gerundive of præbere "to furnish, offer," from præ- "before" + habere "to hold" (see habit). Meaning "food, provisions, etc." (esp. dry food for horses) is recorded from 1340.
provision (n.): c.1380, "providing beforehand" (originally in ref. to ecclesiastical appointments made before the position was vacant), from O.Fr. provision (1320), from L. provisionem (nom. provisio) "foresight, preparation," from providere "look ahead" (see provide). Meaning "something provided" is attested from 1494; specific sense of "supply of food" is from 1610. The verb is attested from 1805 (implied in provisioned). Provisional "of a temporary arrangement," first recorded 1601, from O.Fr. provisionnal (c.1485), on notion of "provide for present needs."
store (n.): c.1300, "that with which a household, camp, etc. is stored," from store (v.). Sense of "sufficient supply (of anything)" is attested from 1471. The meaning "place where goods are kept for sale" is first recorded 1721 in Amer.Eng. (British prefers shop). Stores "articles and equipment for an army" is from 1636. Storefront first attested 1880. In store "laid up for future use" (also of events, etc.) is recorded from late 14c. Store-bought is attested from 1952, Amer.Eng.; earlier store-boughten (1883).
suffice: early 14c., from stem of O.Fr. souffire "be sufficient," from L. sufficere "supply, suffice," from sub "up to" + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Phrase suffice it to say (late 14c.) is a rare surviving subjunctive. Sufficient (late 14c.) is from L. sufficiens, prp. of sufficere.
suggestion: c.1340, "a prompting to evil," from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. suggestioun, from L. suggestionem (nom. suggestio) "an addition, intimation, suggestion," from suggestus, pp. of suggestere "suggest, supply, bring up," from sub "up" + gerere "bring, carry." Sense evolution in L. is from "heap up, build" to "bring forward an idea." Meaning "proposal" appeared by 1382, but original Eng. notion of "evil prompting" is preserved in suggestive (1631, though the indecent aspect did not emerge until 1888). Hypnotism sense is from 1887.
post (2): "place when on duty," 1598, from M.Fr. poste "place where one is stationed," also, "station for post horses" (16c.), from It. posto "post, station," from V.L. *postum, from L. postium, neut. pp. of ponere "to place, to put" (see position). Earliest sense in Eng. was military; meaning "job, position" is attested 1695. The figurative sense of "carrying" by post horses is also behind the verb in bookkeeping (1622) meaning "to transfer from a day book to a formal account." To keep (someone) posted "supply with news" is 1847, Amer.Eng.
was: O.E. wesan, wæs, wæron 1st and 3rd person sing. of wesan "to remain," from P.Gmc. *wesanan (cf. O.S. wesan, O.N. vesa, O.Fris. wesa, M.Du. wesen, Du. wezen, O.H.G. wesen "being, existence," Goth. wisan "to be"), from PIE base *wes- "remain, abide, dwell" (cf. Skt. vasati "he dwells, stays;" cf. vestal). Wesan was a distinct verb in O.E., but it came to supply the past tense of am. This began to develop in P.Gmc., since it is also the case in Gothic and Old Norse. See be.
market: c.1154, "a meeting at a fixed time for buying and selling livestock and provisions," from O.N.Fr. market (O.Fr. marchiet, Fr. marché), from L. mercatus "trading, trade, market" (cf. It. mercato, Sp. mercado), from pp. of mercari "to trade, deal in, buy," from merx (gen. mercis) "wares, merchandise," from Italic root *merk-, possibly from Etruscan, referring to various aspects of economics. Meaning "public building or space where markets are held" first attested c.1250. Sense of "sales, as controlled by supply and demand" is from 1689. The verb is 1635, from the noun. Market value (1691) first attested in writings of John Locke.
power (n.): c.1300, from Anglo-Fr. pouair, O.Fr. povoir, noun use of the infinitive in O.Fr., "to be able," earlier podir (842), from V.L. *potere, from L. potis "powerful" (see potent). Meaning "a state or nation with regard to international authority or influence" is from 1726. The verb meaning "to supply with power" is recorded from 1898. Powerful is c.1400. Powerhouse "building where power is generated" is from 1881; fig. sense attested from 1915. Power-broker (1961) said to have been coined by T.H. White in ref. to the 1960 U.S. presidential election. Phrase the powers that be is from Rom. xiii.1. As a statement wishing good luck, more power to (someone) is recorded from 1842.
issue (n.): c.1300, from O.Fr. issue "a way out, exit," from fem. pp. of issir "to go out," from L. exire, from ex- "out" + ire "to go," from PIE base *ei- "to go" (see ion). Meaning "discharge of blood or other fluid from the body" is from 1520s; sense of "offspring" is from late 14c. Meaning "outcome of an action" is attested from late 14c.; legal sense of "point in question at the conclusion of the presentation by both parties in a suit" (early 14c. in Anglo-Fr.) led to transf. sense of "a point to be decided" (1836). Meaning "action of sending into publication or circulation" is from 1833. The verb meaning "to flow out" (c.1300) is from O.Fr. issu, pp. of issir; sense of "to send out authoritatively" is from c.1600; that of "to supply (someone with something)" is from 1925.
tap (n.): "stopper, faucet," O.E. tæppa, from P.Gmc. *tappon (cf. M.Du. tappe, Du. tap, O.H.G. zapfo, Ger. zapfen). Originally a tapering cylindrical peg (hence taproot, 1601). Meaning "device to listen in secretly on telephone calls" is from 1923, from the verb in this sense, originally (1869) with ref. to telegraph wires. Phrase on tap "ready for use" is recorded from 1483. The verb meaning "to supply with a tap" is from O.E. tæppian. Extended sense of "make use of" is first recorded 1575. Tap-room is from 1807. Tapped out "broke" is 1940s slang, perhaps from the notion of having tapped all one's acquaintances for loans already (cf. British slang on the tap "begging, making requests for loans," 1932).
pork (n.): 1215, "flesh of a pig as food," from L. porcus "pig, tame swine," from PIE *porko- "young swine" (cf. Umbrian purka; O.C.S. prase "young pig;" Lith. parsas "pig;" O.E. fearh, M.Du. varken, both from P.Gmc. *farhaz). Porker young hog fattened for food" is recorded from 1657; meaning "fat person" is from 1892. Pork chop is attested from 1858. Pork barrel "state's financial resources" is 1909, on notion of food supply kept in a barrel (lit. sense from 1801); the shortened form pork in this sense is attested from 1862. Pork-pie hat originally described a woman's style popular c.1855-65, so called for its shape.
please (v.): early 14c., "to be agreeable," from O.Fr. plaisir (Fr. plaire) "to please," from L. placere "to be acceptable, be liked, be approved," related to placare "to soothe, quiet," from PIE base *p(e)lag- "to smooth, make even" (cf. Gk. plax, gen. plakos "level surface," plakoeis "flat;" Lett. plakt "to become flat;" O.N. flaga "layer of earth;" Norw. flag "open sea;" O.E. floh "piece of stone, fragment;" O.H.G. fluoh "cliff"). Intransitive sense (e.g. do as you please) first recorded c.1500; imperative use (e.g. please do this), first recorded 1620s, was probably a shortening of if it please (you) (late 14c.). Verbs for "please" supply the stereotype polite word ("Please come in," short for may it please you to ...) in many languages (Fr., It.), "But more widespread is the use of the first singular of a verb for 'ask, request' " [Buck, who cites Ger. bitte, Pol. prasze, etc.] Sp. favor is short for hace el favor "do the favor." Danish has in this sense vær saa god, lit. "be so good."
run (v.): the modern verb is a merger of two related O.E. words. The first is rinnan, irnan (strong, intransitive, pt. ran, pp. runnen), from P.Gmc. *renwanan (cf. M.Du. runnen, O.S., O.H.G., Goth. rinnan, Ger. rinnen "to flow, run"), both from PIE *ri-ne-a-, nasalized form of base *reie- "to flow, run" (see Rhine). The sense of "cause to run" is from O.E. ærnan, earnan (weak, transitive, probably a metathesis of *rennan), from P.Gmc. *rannjanan, causative of the root *ren- "run." Of streams, etc., from c.1200; of machinery, from 1560s. Meaning "to be in charge of" is first attested 1861, originally Amer.Eng. Meaning "to seek office in an election" is from 1826, Amer.Eng. Phrase run for it "take flight" is attested from 1640s. Most figurative uses are from horseracing or hunting (cf to run (something) into the ground, 1836, Amer.Eng.), except (to feel) run down (1901) which is from clocks (in the lit. sense, 1761). To run across "meet" is attested from 1880. To run short "exhaust one's supply" is from 1752; to run out of in the same sense is from 1713.
live (v.): O.E. lifian (Anglian), libban (W.Saxon) "to be alive," also "to supply oneself with food, to pass life (in some condition)," from P.Gmc. stem *libæ (cf. O.N. lifa, O.Fris. libba, Ger. leben, Goth. liban "to live"), from PIE base *leip- "to remain, continue" (cf. Gk. liparein "to persist, persevere;" see leave).
"According to the Dutch Prouerbe ... Leuen ende laetan leuen, To liue and to let others liue." [Malynes, 1622]
To live it up "live gaily and extravagantly" is from 1951. To live up to "act in accordance with" is from 1694. To live (something) down "outwear (some slander or embarrassment)" is from 1842. To live with "cohabit as husband and wife" is attested from 1749; sense of "to put up with" is attested from 1937. Lived-in "inhabited, occupied" is first recorded 1873. Live-in (adj.) first attested, 1955. Liveable "suitable for living in" is from 1814, first attested in "Mansfield Park." Expression live and learn is attested from c.1620.