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Origin and history of verbal

verbal(adj.)

early 15c., "dealing with words, concerned with words only" (especially in contrast to things or realities), from Old French verbal (14c.) and directly from Late Latin verbalis "consisting of words, relating to verbs," from Latin verbum "word" (see verb).

As "of, pertaining to, or consisting of words," by 1520s; also "of or pertaining to a verb." By 1590s as "expressed in spoken words," 1610s as "literal, word-for-word." Related: Verbally; verbality.

Verbal conditioning is recorded from 1954. Colloquial verbal diarrhea "extreme loquaciousness" is attested by 1823. A verbal noun is a noun derived from a verb and sharing in its senses and constructions.

also from early 15c.

Entries linking to verbal

verb(n.)

late 14c., verbe, "a word" (a sense now obsolete but preserved in verbal, etc.); especially specifically in grammar, "a word that asserts or declares; that part of speech of which the office is predication, and which, either alone or with various modifiers or adjuncts, combines with a subject to make a sentence" [Century Dictionary]. It is from Old French verbe "word; word of God; saying; part of speech that expresses action or being" (12c.) and directly from Latin verbum "verb," originally "a word."

This is reconstructed to be from PIE root *were- (3) "to speak," source also of Avestan urvata- "command;" Sanskrit vrata- "command, vow;" Greek rhētōr "public speaker," rhetra "agreement, covenant," eirein "to speak, say;" Hittite weriga- "call, summon;" Lithuanian vardas "name;" Gothic waurd, Old English word "word."

non-verbal(adj.)

also nonverbal, "not using words," by 1809, from non- + verbal. Related: Non-verbally.

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shake-down
also shakedown, 1730, "impromptu bed made upon loose straw," from the verbal phrase; see shake (v.) + down (adv.)....The verbal phrase shake down is attested from late 14c. as "shake into place, compact by shaking" also "cause to totter and...The meaning "forced contribution" (1902) is from the verbal phrase in a slang sense of "blackmail, extort" (1872)....Meaning "a thorough search" is from 1914; perhaps from the notion of measuring corn; the verbal sense of "to frisk or search...
put-out
"offended, angry, upset," by 1887, from the verbal phrase in the sense of "offend," attested by 1822; see put (v.) + out...The verbal phrase is from mid-14c. as "drive out, banish, exile;" from 1520s as "extinguish" (a fire or burning object)....
clatter
"make a rattling sound," from Old English *clatrian (implied by late Old English verbal noun clatrung "clattering, noise"...With Germanic verbal suffix indicating repeated or diminutive action (see -er (4))....
blackout
also black-out, 1908 in the theatrical sense of a darkened stage, from the verbal phrase; see black (v.) + out (adv.)....The verbal phrase black out, in reference to using black ink to cover printed or written matter deemed objectionable, is...
hold-up
also holdup, 1837, "a stoppage or check," from verbal phrase (see hold (v.) + up (adv.))....The verbal phrase is from late 13c. as "to keep erect; support, sustain;" 1580s as "endure, hold out;" 1590s (intransitive...
spinoff
As a figurative verbal phrase by 1957, "to throw off by centrifugal force;" intransitive use is by 1969....The verbal phrase with reference to television shows is by 1965 (implied in spun off). As an adjective, from 1966....
lock-up
also lockup, "detention cell for offenders," 1838, perhaps short for earlier lock-up house; from the verbal phrase....The verbal phrase lock (someone) up in a dwelling, prison, etc., is from early 15c....
providence
late 14c., "foresight, prudent anticipation, timely care or preparation," from Old French providence "divine providence, foresight" (12c.) and directly from Latin providentia "foresight, precaution, foreknowledge," abstract noun from present-participle stem of providere "look ahe
aloof
1530s, "to windward," from a- (1) "on" + Middle English loof "windward direction," which is probably from Dutch loef (Middle Dutch lof) "the weather side of a ship" (see luff (n.)). Originally in nautical orders to keep the ship's head to the wind, and thus stay clear of a lee-sh
Goth
Old English Gota (plural Gotan) "a member of the Germanic people who lived in Eastern Europe c.100 C.E.," from Late Latin Gothus (plural Gothi), from Greek Gothos (plural Gothoi), from Gothic *Gutos, which is preserved in Gothic gutþiuda "Gothic people," the first element cognate

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