word (n.)

古英语 word “言语, 谈话, 语句, 句子, 声明, 新闻, 报告, 词语”, 来自于原日耳曼语 *wurda- (也是古撒克逊语, 古弗里斯兰语 word, 荷兰语 woord, 古高德语, 德语 wort, 古北欧语 orð, 哥特语 waurd), 来自于PIE *were- (3) “说, 说” (见 verb).

在古英语中, “应许” 的意思和神学意义一样. 在复数中, 意思是“口角” (如? have words with 某个人 Word-processor 1971年首次录制. word-processing 是从1972年. word-wrap 是1977年的. A word to the wise 是来自拉丁语短语 verbum sapienti satis est “一言以蔽之”. Word-for-word “用准确的词或术语” 是14世纪末的说法 Word of mouth “口语, 口头交流” (区别于书面语) 是到1550年代.

It is dangerous to leave written that which is badly written. A chance word, upon paper, may destroy the world. Watch carefully and erase, while the power is still yours, I say to myself, for all that is put down, once it escapes, may rot its way into a thousand minds, the corn become a black smut, and all libraries, of necessity, be burned to the ground as a consequence. [William Carlos Williams, “Paterson” ]

13世纪, “说出”; 1610年代, “用语言表达”, 来自 word (n.). 相关链接: Worded; wording.