great, adj., n., adv., and int.

Germanic etymology.The etymology of this word and its cognates in the West Germanic languages given here is accepted by most authorities, assuming development from an Indo-European base with the sense ‘to pound, crush’ (see forms in non-Germanic languages cited and discussed at grit n.¹) via the sense ‘coarsely ground, large-grained’ (compare sense A. 1a) to the prevailing sense ‘large’. However, it has been objected that the sense ‘coarse’ is relatively rare in Old English and not well attested in the other West Germanic languages, where the sense ‘large, thick, fat, bulky’ is more typical (compare also greatness n. 1). For further discussion see T. Hoad ‘Semantics in Etymological Explanations’ in R. Bremmer & J. van den Berg Current Trends West Germanic Etymol. Lexicogr. (1993) 117–32.Form history.The present word is one of a small number with Middle English long open ē   (where that sound is not followed by r  ) in which the vowel underwent regular raising to /eː/ as a result of the Great Vowel Shift without subsequent raising to /iː/, thus merging ultimately with the reflex of Middle English long ā  ; others include break v., yea adv., drain v., and steak n.   Pronunciations of the present word with /iː/ are given alongside those with /eː/ by contemporary commentators from the 16th to the 18th cent. and are still current in some regional varieties (compare e.g. the Scots and English regional variant greet). Various explanations have been proposed for the atypical development of the vowel sound in this word, including the retractive influence of the preceding r   and perhaps also of the following voiceless stop (see e.g. J. Beal Eng. Pronunc. in the Eighteenth Cent. (1999) 64–5). For further discussion of earlier explanations and their relative merits see also E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §115.In Middle English the stem vowel of the comparative form (the reflex of Old English (Anglian) *grēt(t)ra  greater adj.) shows regular shortening before the consonant cluster (e.g. gretter  , grettir  , etc.). The short vowel was sometimes transferred by analogy to the positive (and superlative) giving such forms as gret  , grett  , grette  , (and grettest  ). Forms with short ă   (e.g. grat  , gratter  , grattest  ), attested especially in the north-west midlands and the south-east, probably originate in shortening of an unmutated Old English comparative form *grēat(t)ra   (after earlier monophthongization of ēa   to ǣ  ). Occasional early Middle English forms also show regular shortening before consonant clusters in the positive in reflexes of Old English inflected forms (compare e.g. quot. c1275 at sense A. 9a).In Older Scots (and in some English regional varieties) short ĕ   was raised sporadically to ĭ   before alveolar consonants, giving such forms as grit  , gritt  , gryt  , grytt   (see A. J. Aitken & C. Macafee Older Scots Vowels (2002) §14.15.(8)).Forms such as grate  , grait  , grayt  , etc., chiefly represent reverse spellings after the merger of the reflex of Middle English long open ē   with the reflexes of Middle English ā   and ai  .The distinctive diphthongal Scots form gryte   /ɡrəit/ (now chiefly north-eastern) appears to have arisen (in the 16th cent.) as a result of a development whereby the reflex of Middle English long open ē   in certain environments (between /tʃ/ or /r/ and certain alveolar consonants) was captured by the already diphthongized reflex of Middle English long ī   (see A. J. Aitken & C. Macafee Older Scots Vowels (2002) §§9.3.(2),14.1.(12)).For metathesized forms see gurt adj. and adv.  Use in names.Although not common, the word is attested early in place names (apparently chiefly in sense A. 3), as Gretedone  , Devon, lit. ‘great hill’ (1086; now Gratton), Gretestan  , Gloucestershire (1086; formerly Greston, now lost), Greatanlea   (first half of the 12th cent. in a copy of the Laws of Æðelstan of c935; now Grately).In use designating the larger of two places of the same name (see sense A. 4c), Great   typically appears as a later addition to an existing name. Examples are attested from at least the 13th cent.; compare e.g. Great Langton  , North Yorkshire (1223 as Great Langeton  ; 1086 as Langeton  ), Great Yeldham  , Essex (1265 as Great Gelham  ; 1086 as Geldeham  ), Great Eccleston  , Lancashire (1285 as Great Ecleston  ; 1086 as Eglestun  ). Such names are often paralleled by earlier Latin forms with Magna   (feminine of classical Latin magnus   great: see magni- comb. form), as e.g. Great Ponton  , Lincolnshire (1086 as Magna Pantone   and also as Pamptune  ), and more rarely by forms with Major   (classical Latin maior  major adj.), as e.g. Great Harwood  , Lancashire (early 12th cent. as Majori Harewuda  ), or by forms with Maius   (classical Latin maius  , neuter form corresponding to maior  ), as e.g. Great Livermere  , Suffolk (11th cent. as Maius Liuremere   and also as Leuuremer  ). Such Latin forms may suggest earlier currency of Great   as an affix in place names, although compare earlier equivalent use of much adj.   and mickle adj.  Also attested early in bynames and surnames, as Godwine Greatseod  , lit. ‘great purse’ (late 11th cent.; probably denoting a wealthy person), Willelmi Gretheuid   (1243), Thom. Gretword   (1269; perhaps denoting a braggart (compare sense A. 6)), Henry Gretschank   (1275), Thom. Gretchep  , lit. ‘great bargain’ (1313; compare sense A. 9a), etc.Development of specific senses.In sense A. 12, designating a degree of family relationship or descent one degree further removed from that specified, after similar use of Middle French, French grand (see grand- comb. form), itself after similar use of classical Latin magnus   great (see magni- comb. form), in e.g. classical Latin avunculus magnus   great-uncle, amita magna   great-aunt.In Scots use in sense A. 10d   with reference to a money of account after similar use of Middle Dutch, Dutch groot  , adjective (a1401 in schelling groot  , 1507 or earlier in pond groot  ). With use as noun as the name of a coin (sense B. 6) compare also earlier groat n.   and Middle Dutch, Dutch groot  , noun (see groat n.).