item

item
i·tem (ī’təm)
n.
1. A single article or unit in a collection, enumeration, or series.
2. A clause of a document, such as a bill or charter.
3. An entry in an account.
4. a) A bit of information; a detail. b) A short piece in a newspaper or magazine.
5. A romantically involved couple: »

"[They] soon began seeing each other ... and were an item for a year and a half."

 (Peter J. Boyer).
adv. ▸ Also; likewise. Used to introduce each article in an enumeration or list.
tr.v. i·temed, i·tem·ing, i·tems Archaic ▸ To record, especially in an itemized list.
╂ [From Middle English, also, moreover, from Latin; see i-.]
Word History: The word item seems to us to be very much a noun, whether it refers to an article in a collection or a bit of information. But it began its life in English (first recorded before 1398) as an adverb meaning "moreover, also, in addition." Item was typically used in front of each object listed in an inventory, as we might put also. This use in English simply reflects a meaning of the word in Latin. However, it is easy to see how item could be taken to stand for the thing that it preceded, and so we get, for example, the sense "an article included in an enumeration." The first such usages are found in the 1500s, while the sense "a bit of information" is not found until the 1800s.

Word Histories. 2014.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • item — item …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • item — i‧tem [ˈaɪtəm] noun [countable] 1. a single thing, especially something that is for sale: • The CD used to be considered a luxury item. • stores selling non food items 2. ACCOUNTING a piece of information written in a set of accounts …   Financial and business terms

  • Item — may refer to:* Item, entry in a list, or one object in a collection of objects. * Item, the name of a town in Abia State of Nigeria. * Collector s item, an object or item of any kind that has become valuable * Configuration item, form the basis… …   Wikipedia

  • ITeM — stands for the Instituto del Tercer Mundo (or, the Third World Institute) which is based in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay.Focus on informationIt focuses on information, communication and education activities on an international level,… …   Wikipedia

  • item — item, detail, particular are comparable when meaning one of the things, either separate and distinct or considered so, which constitute a whole. Item applies mainly to each thing that is put down in a list (as of things needed, things to be done …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Item — bezeichnet: Item (Partikel), veraltete satzverknüpfende Partikel Elemente in einer Aufzählung bei der Datenerhebung eines von mehreren Merkmalen einer Untersuchungseinheit, siehe statistische Variable Psychologische Diagnostik: einzelne Testfrage …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • ITEM — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom …   Wikipédia en Français

  • item — i tem, n. [From {Item}, adv.] [1913 Webster] 1. An article; a separate particular in an account; as, the items in a bill; he picked up four items at the drug store. [1913 Webster +PJC] 2. A hint; an innuendo. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] A secret item… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • item — / ī təm/ n 1: a distinct part in an enumeration, account, or series 2: a financial instrument (as a check or draft) Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …   Law dictionary

  • item — late 14c. (adv.) moreover, in addition, from L. item (adv.) likewise, just so, moreover, used to introduce a new fact or statement, probably from ita thus, id it (see ID (Cf. id)) + adv. ending tem (Cf. idem the same ). Thus a statement or maxim… …   Etymology dictionary

  • item — item·iza·tion; item·ize; item; sub·item; item·iz·er; …   English syllables

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