Etymology dictionary

tramp (v.) — transportation (n.)

tramp (v.)

late 14c., "walk heavily, stamp," from Middle Low German trampen "to stamp," from Proto-Germanic *tremp- (source also of Danish trampe, Swedish trampa "to tramp, stamp," Gothic ana-trimpan "to press upon"), from PIE *der- (1) "to run, walk, step" (see tread (v.)). Related: Tramped; tramping.

tramp (n.)

"person who wanders about, idle vagrant, vagabond," 1660s, from tramp (v.). Sense of "steamship which takes cargo wherever it can be traded" (as opposed to one running a regular line) is attested from c. 1880. The meaning "promiscuous woman" is from 1922. Sense of "a long, toilsome walk" is from 1786.

trample (v.)

late 14c., "to walk heavily," frequentative form of tramp (v.) + -el (3). Transitive sense "beat down by continuously treading on" is from mid-15c. Related: Trampled; trampling. As a noun from c. 1600.

trampoline (n.)

1798, from Spanish trampolin "springboard," and Italian trampolino, from trampoli "stilts," from a Germanic source (compare Low German trampeln "trample") related to tramp (v.).

trans-

word-forming element meaning "across, beyond, through, on the other side of, to go beyond," from Latin trans (prep.) "across, over, beyond," perhaps originally present participle of a verb *trare-, meaning "to cross," from PIE *tra-, variant of root *tere- (2) "cross over, pass through, overcome." In chemical use indicating "a compound in which two characteristic groups are situated on opposite sides of an axis of a molecule" [Flood].

trans.

abbreviation of transitive (adj.).

trance (n.)

late 14c., "state of extreme dread or suspense," also "a half-conscious or insensible condition, state of insensibility to mundane things," from Old French transe "fear of coming evil," originally "coma, passage from life to death" (12c.), from transir "be numb with fear," originally "die, pass on," from Latin transire "cross over, go over, pass over, hasten over, pass away," from trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + ire "to go" (from PIE root *ei- "to go"). French trance in its modern sense has been reborrowed from English. As a music genre, from c. 1993.

tranche (n.)

c. 1500, from French tranche "a cutting," from trancher, trencher "to cut," Old French trenchier "to cut, carve, slice" (see trench). Economic sense is from 1930.

trannie (n.)

also tranny "transsexual person," 1983, from transsexual + -ie. In 1960s and '70s the word was used as a slang shortening of transistor radio and in car magazines for transmission.

tranquilizer (n.)

1800, "that which tranquilizes;" from 1824 as "a sedative" (first reference is to ground ivy), agent noun from tranquilize; in reference to one of a large group of anti-anxiety drugs, it is recorded by 1956.

tranquil (adj.)

mid-15c., a back-formation from tranquility or else from Latin tranquillus "quiet, calm, still." Related: Tranquilly.

tranquility (n.)

also tranquillity, late 14c., from Old French tranquilite "peace, happiness" (12c.), from Latin tranquillitatem (nominative tranquillitas) "quietness, stillness; serenity," from tranquillus "quiet, calm, still," perhaps from trans- "over" (here perhaps in its intensive sense of "exceedingly") and an adjective from PIE root *kweie- "be quiet," but de Vaan finds this "semantically vague" and phonetically disputable.

tranquilize (v.)

1620s, from tranquil + -ize. Related: Tranquilized; tranquilizing; tranquilization.

transact (v.)

1580s, back-formation from transaction, or else from Latin transactus, past participle of transigere "to drive through, accomplish, bring to an end, settle," from trans "across, beyond; through" (see trans-) + agere "to set in motion, drive, drive forward," hence "to do, perform" (from PIE root *ag- "to drive, draw out or forth, move"). Related: Transacted; transacting.

transaction (n.)

mid-15c., "the adjustment of a dispute, a negotiated agreement, management or settlement of an affair," from Old French transaccion "exchange, transaction," from Late Latin transactionem (nominative transactio) "an agreement, accomplishment," noun of action from past-participle stem of transigere "stab through; accomplish, perform, drive or carry through, come to a settlement," from trans "across, beyond; through" (see trans-) + agere "to set in motion, drive, drive forward," hence "to do, perform" (from PIE root *ag- "to drive, draw out or forth, move"). Meaning "a piece of business" is attested from 1640s. Related: Transactions; transactional.

trans-Atlantic (adj.)

also transatlantic, 1779, from trans- "through, across" + Atlantic.

transaxle (n.)

1958, from transmission axle.

transceiver (n.)

1934, from a merger of transmitter + receiver.

transcend (v.)

mid-14c., "escape inclusion in; lie beyond the scope of," from Old French transcendre "transcend, surpass," and directly from Latin transcendere "climb over or beyond, surmount, overstep," from trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + scandere "to climb" (see scan (v.)). Meanings "be surpassing, outdo, excel; surmount, move beyond" are from early 15c. Related: Transcended; transcending.

transcendent (adj.)

mid-15c., from Latin transcendentem (nominative transcendens) "surmounting, rising above," present participle of transcendere (see transcend). Related: Transcendently.

transcendence (n.)

c. 1600, from transcendent + -ence, or else from Medieval Latin transcendentia, from Latin transcendentem. Related: Transcendency.

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.

transcendental (adj.)

1660s, from Medieval Latin transcendentalis, from Latin transcendentem (see transcendent). Related: Transcendentally. Transcendental meditation attested by 1966.

transcendentalist (n.)

1803, from transcendental + -ist.

transcontinental (adj.)

also trans-continental, 1853 (in transcontinental railroad), American English, from trans- + continental.

transcribe (v.)

1550s, from Latin transcribere "to copy, write again in another place, write over, transfer," from trans "across, beyond; over" (see trans-) + scribere "to write" (from PIE root *skribh- "to cut"). To do it poorly is to transcribble (1746). Related: Transcribed; transcriber; transcribing.

transcription (n.)

1590s, from French transcription, from Late Latin transcriptionem (nominative transcriptio), noun of action from past-participle stem of transcribere (see transcribe). Biological sense is from 1961. Related: Transcriptional; transcriptionist.

transcript (n.)

"written copy of a document," c. 1300, from Medieval Latin transcriptum, neuter past participle of Latin transcribere (see transcribe).

transcriptase (n.)

1963, from transcription + -ase.

transducer (n.)

1924, "device which converts energy from one form to another," from Latin transducere/traducere "lead across, transfer, carry over," from trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + ducere "to lead" (from PIE root *deuk- "to lead").

transduce (v.)

by 1944; a back-formation from transducer. Related: Transduced; transducing.

transduction (n.)

"act of leading or carrying over," 1650s, from Latin transductionem/traducionem (nominative transductio) "a removal, transfer," noun of action from past-participle stem of transducere/traducere "change over, convert," also "lead in parade, make a show of, dishonor, disgrace," originally "lead along or across, bring through, transfer" (see traduce).

transect (v.)

"to cut across," 1630s, from Latin trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + sectus, past participle of secare "to cut" (from PIE root *sek- "to cut"). Related: Transected; transecting.

transept (n.)

"transverse section of a cruciform church," 1530s, from Medieval Latin transeptum, from Latin trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + saeptum "fence, partition, enclosure" (see septum). Rare before 1700. Related: Transeptal.

transeunt (adj.)

variant of transient (adj.), usually in a sense of "operating beyond or outside itself" (opposite of immanent).

transexual

see transsexual.

transfer (v.)

late 14c., from Old French transferer or directly from Latin transferre "bear across, carry over, bring through; transfer, copy, translate," from trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + ferre "to carry" (from PIE root *bher- (1) "to carry"). Related: Transferred; transferring.

transference (n.)

"act of transferring," 1680s, from transfer (v.) + -ence. In psychoanalytical sense it is recorded from 1911, translating German übertragung (Freud).

transferable (adj.)

1650s, from transfer (v.) + -able.

transfer (n.)

1670s, "conveyance of property," from transfer (v.).

transferee (n.)

1736, "one to whom a transfer is made;" 1890s as "one who is transferred;" from transfer (v.) + -ee.

transferor (n.)

1875, legalese form of transferer (1807); agent noun in Latin form from transfer (v.).

transfiguration (n.)

late 14c., from Latin transfigurationem (nominative transfiguratio) "a change of form," noun of action from past-participle stem of transfigurare ""change the shape of" (see transfigure). In English, originally "the change in appearance of Christ before his disciples" (Matthew xvii.2; Mark ix.2, 3). The non-Christian sense is first recorded 1540s.

transfigure (v.)

early 13c., from Old French transfigurer "change, transform" (12c.), and directly from Latin transfigurare "change the shape of," from trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + figurare "to form, fashion," from figura "to form, shape," from figura "a shape, form, figure" (from PIE root *dheigh- "to form, build"). Related: Transfigured; transfiguring.

transfix (v.)

1580s, "pierce through, impale," from French transfixer (15c.), from Latin transfixus "impaled," past participle of transfigere "to impale, pierce through," from trans "across, beyond; through" (see trans-) + figere "to fix, fasten" (from PIE root *dheigw- "to stick, fix"). Figurative sense of "make motionless or helpless, as with amazement, terror, or grief" is first recorded 1640s. Related: Transfixed; transfixing.

transfixion (n.)

c. 1600, noun of action from transfix.

transform (v.)

mid-14c., "change the form of" (transitive), from Old French transformer (14c.), from Latin transformare "change in shape, metamorphose," from trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + formare "to form" (see form (v.)). Intransitive sense "undergo a change of form" is from 1590s. Related: Transformed; transforming.

transformer (n.)

c. 1600, "one who or that which transforms," agent noun from transform (v.). Meaning "device to reduce electrical currents" is from 1882.

transformative (adj.)

1660s, from Latin transformatus, past participle of transformare (see transform) + -ive.

transformation (n.)

c. 1400, from Old French transformation and directly from Church Latin transformationem (nominative transformatio) "change of shape," noun of action from past-participle stem of transformare "change in shape, metamorphose" (see transform).

transformational (adj.)

1857, from transformation + -al (1).

transfuse (v.)

"to transfer by pouring," early 15c., from Latin transfusus, past participle of transfundere "pour from one container to another," from trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + fundere "to pour" (from nasalized form of PIE root *gheu- "to pour"). Related: Transfused; transfusing.

transfusion (n.)

1570s, "action of pouring liquid from one vessel to another," from French transfusion and directly from Latin transfusionem (nominative transfusio) "a decanting, intermingling," noun of action from past-participle stem of transfundere "pour from one container to another," from trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + fundere "to pour" (from nasalized form of PIE root *gheu- "to pour"). Sense of "transfering of blood from one individual to another" first recorded 1640s.

transgender (adj.)

also trans-gender, by 1974 in reference to persons whose sense of personal identity does not correspond with their anatomical sex, from trans- + gender (n.). Related: Transgendered.

transgress (v.)

late 15c., transgressen, "to sin," from Old French transgresser (14c.), from Latin transgressus, past participle of transgredi "step across, step over; climb over, pass, go beyond," from trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + gradi (past participle gressus) "to walk, go" (from PIE root *ghredh- "to walk, go") . Related: Transgressed; transgressing.

transgression (n.)

late 14c., from Old French transgression "transgression," particularly that relating to Adam and the Fall (12c.), from Late Latin transgressionem (nominative transgressio) "a transgression of the law," in classical Latin, "a going over, a going across," noun of action from transgressus, past participle of transgredi "step across, step over; climb over, pass, go beyond," from trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + gradi (past participle gressus) "to walk, go" (from PIE root *ghredh- "to walk, go"). Geological sense is from 1882.

transgressive (adj.)

1640s, "inclined to transgress," from transgress + -ive. Related: Transgressively.

transgressor (n.)

early 15c., from Anglo-French transgressour, Old French transgressor (14c.), and directly from Latin transgressor, agent noun from transgredi (see transgression).

transience (n.)

1745, from transient + -ence. Related: Transiency (1650s).

transient (adj.)

c. 1600, "transitory, not durable," from Latin transientem (nominative transiens) "passing over or away," present participle of transire "cross over, go over, pass over, hasten over, pass away," from trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + ire "to go" (from PIE root *ei- "to go"). Meaning "passing through a place without staying" is from 1680s. The noun is first attested 1650s; specific sense of "transient guest or boarder" attested from 1857. Related: Transiently.

transistor (n.)

small electronic device, 1948, from transfer + resistor, so called because it transfers an electrical current across a resistor. Said to have been coined by U.S. electrical engineer John Robinson Pierce (1910-2002) of Bell Telephone Laboratories, Murray Hill, N.J., where the device was invented in 1947. It took over many functions of the vacuum tube. Transistor radio is first recorded 1958.

transistorize (v.)

1953, from transistor + -ize. Related: Transistorized.

transitive (adj.)

"taking a direct object" (of verbs), 1570s (implied in transitively), from Late Latin transitivus (Priscian) "transitive," literally "passing over (to another person)," from transire "cross over, go over, pass over, hasten over, pass away," from trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + ire "to go" (from PIE root *ei- "to go"). Related: Transitively.

transit (n.)

mid-15c., "act or fact of passing across or through," from Latin transitus "a going over, passing over, passage," verbal noun from past participle of transire "cross over, go over, pass over, hasten over, pass away," from trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + ire "to go" (from PIE root *ei- "to go"). Meaning "a transit of a planet across the sun" is from 1660s. Meaning "public transportation" is attested from 1873.

transition (n.)

mid-15c., transicion, in grammar, from Latin transitionem (nominative transitio) "a going across or over," noun of action from past-participle stem of transire "go or cross over" (see transient).

transit (v.)

mid-15c., from Latin transitus, past participle of transire "cross over, go over, pass over, hasten over, pass away," from trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + ire "to go" (from PIE root *ei- "to go"). Astronomical sense is from 1680s. Related: Transited; transiting.

transitional (adj.)

1810, from transition + -al (1). Related: Transitionally.

transitory (adj.)

"passing without continuing," late 14c., from Old French transitoire "ephemeral, transitory" (12c.), from Late Latin transitorius "passing, transient," in classical Latin "allowing passage through," from transitus, past participle of transire "go or cross over" (see transient).

translater (n.)

occasional spelling of translator.

translation (n.)

mid-14c., "removal of a saint's body or relics to a new place," also "rendering of a text from one language to another," from Old French translacion "translation" of text, also of the bones of a saint, etc. (12c.) or directly from Latin translationem (nominative translatio) "a carrying across, removal, transporting; transfer of meaning," noun of action from past-participle stem of transferre "bear across, carry over; copy, translate" (see transfer (v.)).

translate (v.)

early 14c., "to remove from one place to another," also "to turn from one language to another," from Old French translater and directly from Latin translatus "carried over," serving as past participle of transferre "to bring over, carry over" (see transfer), from trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + lātus "borne, carried" (see oblate (n.)). Related: Translated; translating. A similar notion is behind the Old English word it replaced, awendan, from wendan "to turn, direct" (see wend).

translator (n.)

mid-14c., from Old French translator (12c.) or directly from Latin translator "one who transfers or interprets, one who carries over," agent noun from transferre (see transfer (v.)).

transliteration (n.)

"rendering of the letters of one alphabet by the equivalents of another," 1835, from trans- "across" (see trans-) + Latin littera (also litera) "letter, character" (see letter (n.)).

transliterate (v.)

"to write a word in the characters of another alphabet," 1849, from trans- "across" + Latin littera (also litera) "letter, character" (see letter (n.)). Related: Transliterated; transliterating.

translocation (n.)

"removal from one place to another," 1620s, from trans- + location.

translucent (adj.)

1590s, from Latin translucentem (nominative translucens), present participle of translucere "to shine through," from trans "across, beyond; through" (see trans-) + lucere "to shine," from suffixed (iterative) form of PIE root *leuk- "light, brightness." Related: Translucently.

translucence (n.)

early 15c., from Medieval Latin translucentia, from Latin translucentem (see translucent). Related: Translucency.

transmigration (n.)

c. 1300, transmigracioun, "the removal of the Jews into the Babylonian captivity," from Old French transmigracion "exile, diaspora" (13c.) and directly from Late Latin transmigrationem (nominative transmigratio) "change of country," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin transmigrare "to wander, move, to migrate," from trans "across, beyond; over" (see trans-) + migrare "to migrate" (see migration).

The general sense of "passage from one place to another" is attested from late 14c.; the specific meaning "passage of the soul after death into another body" is from 1590s.

transmission (n.)

1610s, "conveyance from one place to another," from Latin transmissionem (nominative transmissio) "a sending over or across, passage," noun of action from past-participle stem of transmittere "send over or across" (see transmit). The meaning "part of a motor vehicle that regulates power from the engine to the axle" is recorded from 1894.

transmissible (adj.)

"capable of being transmitted," in any sense, 1640s, from Latin transmiss-, stem of transmittere "send across, carry over" (see transmit) + -ible. A parallel formation is transmittible, which might be based on transmit (v.). Related: Transmissibility.

transmit (v.)

"send over, onward, or along," c. 1400, from Latin transmittere "send across, cause to go across, transfer, pass on," from trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + mittere "to release, let go; send, throw" (see mission). Related: Transmitted; transmitting.

transmitter (n.)

1727, "one who transmits," agent noun from transmit. In telegraphy from 1844. The meaning "apparatus for transmitting radio signals" is from 1934.

transmittance (n.)

"act of transmitting; state of being transmitted," 1786, from transmit + -ance.

transmittal (n.)

"conveyance from one place to another," 1724, from transmit + -al (2). Originally interchangeable with transmission, but that word now has a second sense.

transmogrify (v.)

"change completely, transform into some other person or thing as if by magic," 1650s, a word of unknown origin. Century Dictionary describes its usage as "humorous and contemptuous" and suggests it might be based on transform. In 17c. and 18c. it also appeared as transmography. OED appends a note suggesting it could be a vulgar formation based off transmigrate, which was used from c. 1600 in reference to souls passing into other bodies after death (see transmigration). If so, it might have been influenced by modify. Related: Transmogrified; transmogrifying.

transmute (v.)

late 14c., "transform the appearance of," from Latin transmutare "change from one condition to another," from trans "across, beyond; thoroughly" (see trans-) + mutare "to change" (from PIE root *mei- (1) "to change, go, move"). Related: Transmuted; transmuting.

transmutation (n.)

late 14c., transmutacioun, "successive alteration and interchange," also "transformation in form or nature, metamorphosis; change of one substance into another," late 14c., from Old French transmutacion "transformation, change, metamorphosis" (12c.), from Late Latin transmutationem (nominative transmutatio) "a change, shift," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin transmutare "change from one condition to another," from trans "across, beyond; thoroughly" (see trans-) + mutare "to change" (from PIE root *mei- (1) "to change, go, move"). In the first sense originally in theology; in the second, in alchemy.

trans-national (adj.)

also transnational, 1884, "crossing a nation," from trans- + national (adj.). It is attested from 1921 as "extending or having interests beyond national frontiers." Related: Transnationally; transnationalism.

transnationalism (n.)

1921, from transnational + -ism.

trans-oceanic (adj.)

1827, "situated across the ocean," from trans- + oceanic. Meaning "passing over the sea" is recorded from 1868.

transom (n.)

late 14c., transeyn "crossbeam spanning an opening, lintel," probably by dissimilation from Latin transtrum "crossbeam" (especially one spanning an opening), from trans "across, beyond" (from PIE root *tere- (2) "cross over, pass through, overcome") + instrumental suffix -trum. The meaning "small window over a door or other window" is recorded by 1844.

transparency (n.)

1610s, "condition of being transparent," from Medieval Latin transparentia, from transparentem (see transparent). Meaning "that which is transparent" is from 1590s; of pictures, prints, etc., from 1785; in photography from 1866. Related: Transparence.

transparent (adj.)

early 15c., from Medieval Latin transparentem (nominative transparens), present participle of transparere "show light through," from Latin trans "across, beyond; through" (see trans-) + parere "come in sight, appear; submit, obey" (see appear). Figurative sense of "easily seen through" is first attested 1590s. The attempt to back-form a verb transpare (c. 1600) died with the 17c. Related: Transparently.

transpire (v.)

1590s, "pass off in the form of a vapor or liquid," from French transpirer (16c.), from Latin trans "across, beyond; through" (see trans-) + spirare "to breathe" (see spirit (n.)). Figurative sense of "leak out, become known" is recorded from 1741, and the erroneous meaning "take place, happen" is almost as old, being first recorded 1755. Related: Transpired; transpiring.

transpiration (n.)

early 15c., from Medieval Latin transpirationem (nominative transpiratio), noun of action from past participle stem of transpirare (see transpire).

transplant (n.)

1756, in reference to plants, from transplant (v.); in reference to surgical transplanting of human organs or tissue it is first recorded 1951, but not in widespread use until Christiaan Barnard performed the world's first successful heart transplant in 1967 at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. Meaning "person not native to his place of residence" is recorded from 1961.

transplant (v.)

mid-15c., from Late Latin transplantare "plant again in a different place," from Latin trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + plantare "to plant" (see plant (n.)). Extended to people (1550s) and then to organs or tissue (1786). Related: Transplanted; transplanting. An earlier verb was overplaunten "to transplant" (a tree), late 14c.