later | Search Online Etymology Dictionary

1351 entries found.

1580s, "unskillful," from art (n.) + -less. Later also "uncultured, rude" (1590s); then "unartificial, natural" (1670s) and "guileless, ingenuous" (1713). Related: Artlessly; artlessness.

insulator (n.)

1801, agent noun in Latin form from insulate (v.). In reference to the glass or earthenware devices to hold telegraph (later telephone) wires, from 1840s.

scrap-heap (n.)

1803, "place where scrap is collected," later especially "place in a railroad yard, etc., where old iron is collected," from scrap (n.1) + heap (n.).

transcendentalism (n.)

1803, in reference to Kant, later to Schelling; 1842 in reference to the New England religio-philosophical movement among American followers of German writers; from transcendental + -ism.

lunatic (n.)

"lunatic person," late 14c., from lunatic (adj.). Originally one with lucid intervals; later, in legal use, a general term for a person of unsound mind.

hebdomadal (adj.)

1610s, from Late Latin hebdomadalis, from Latin hebdomas "seven, the seventh day; a week" (see hebdomad). In later use as pedantic humor.

rah (interj.)

in cheers, 1870, a shortening of hurrah. Adjective rah-rah is attested from 1907, originally indicating college life generally, later enthusiastic cheerleading.

existentialist

by 1895 (adj.) in philosophy; 1945 (n.); from existential + -ist and in later use from French existentialiste, from existentialisme (1940); see existentialism. Related: Existentialistic.

homing (n.)

"action of going home," 1765, in reference to pigeons, verbal noun from home (v.). Of aircraft, later missiles, from 1923. Homing pigeon attested by 1868.

jerry-can (n.)

"5-gallon metal container," 1943, from Jerry "a German." It was first used by German troops in World War II and later adopted by the Allies.

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