shape
/ʃeɪp/
noun
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*skapiz — form, condition, or creation
Overview
Meaning Now
- The external form, contours, or outline of someone or something.
- The physical condition or state of health of a person.
Literal older meaning
form, creation, or appearance
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
sceap
Earliest period
Old English
Journey
The word is etymologically related to 'ship' and 'shop', sharing the Germanic root '*skap-', which implies a sense of putting things in order or creating something tangible. The transition from 'creation' to 'physical form' reflects a broader linguistic tendency to describe things by how they were fashioned.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*skapiz
“creation, form”
- Old English
sceap
“form, creation”
Original sense related to the act of creating or shaping.
- Middle English
schape
“form, appearance”
Influenced by Old English 'scieppan' (to create).
- Modern English
shape
“contour, physical condition”
Standardized spelling.
Connections
Word parts
shape
root
form
Related across languages
German
Schaffen
to create/do
Old Norse
skap
form, condition
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.