performance | Search Online Etymology Dictionary

138 entries found.

late 15c., "accomplishment, completion" (of something), from perform + -ance. Meaning "that which is accomplished, a thing performed" is from 1590s; that of "action of performing a play, etc." is from 1610s; that of "a public entertainment" is from 1709. The earlier noun in Middle English was performing (late 14c.) "state of completion, accomplishment of an act." Performance art is attested from 1971.

non-performance (n.)

also nonperformance, "failure or neglect to perform," c. 1500, from non- + performance.

audition (v.)

1935 (transitive) "give (an applicant for a performance part) a trial or test," from audition (n.). Intransitive sense "try out for a performance part" is from 1938. Related: Auditioned; auditioning.

acting (n.)

c. 1600, "performance of deeds;" 1660s, "performance of plays;" verbal noun from present participle of act (v.). Acting out "abnormal behavior caused by unconscious influences" is from 1945 in psychiatry.

officeship (n.)

early 15c., "performance of ecclesiastical duties," from office + -ship.

orchestral (adj.)

"pertaining to an orchestra; suitable for performance by an orchestra," 1811, from orchestra + -al (1).

workmanship (n.)

early 14c., "performance of labor," from workman + -ship. Meaning "skill as a workman" is from 1520s.

headliner (n.)

1891, "one who writes newspaper headlines;" 1896 as "one who stars in a performance;" from headline + -er (1).

residual (n.)

1550s, in mathematics, "a residual quantity," from residual (adj.) or from residue + -al (2). Residuals "royalties for repeated performance or broadcast" is attested by 1960.

hafla (n.)

in reference to belly-dance performance and social gathering, by 1998, from Arabic hafla "party, social or family gathering."

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