Etymology, English, New

Etymology

From Middle English newe, from Old English nīewe, from Proto-Germanic *niwjaz, from Proto-Indo-European *néwyos (“new”), from *néwos, from the hapax root *new-. Ultimately, suggested to be a vṛddhi derivation from *nu (“now”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /njuː/
• (General American, Canada) IPA^(key): /n(j)u/
• (General Australian, General New Zealand) IPA^(key): /njʉː/

Adjective

new (comparative newer, superlative newest)

1. Recently made, or created.

   This is a new scratch on my car!   The band just released a new album.

2. Additional; recently discovered.

   We turned up some new evidence from the old files.

3. Current or later, as opposed to former.

   My new car is much better than my previous one, even though it is older.   We had been in our new house for five years by then.

4. Used to distinguish something established more recently, named after something or some place previously existing.

   New Bond Street is an extension of Bond Street.

5. In original condition; pristine; not previously worn or used.

   Are you going to buy a new car or a second-hand one?

6. Refreshed, reinvigorated, reformed.

   That shirt is dirty. Go and put on a new one.   I feel like a new person after a good night’s sleep.   After the accident, I saw the world with new eyes.

7. Newborn.

   My sister has a new baby, and our mother is excited to finally have a grandchild.

8. Of recent origin; having taken place recently.

   I can’t see you for a while; the pain is still too new.   Did you see the new King Lear at the theatre?

9. Strange, unfamiliar or not previously known.

   The idea was new to me.   I need to meet new people.

10. Recently arrived or appeared.

    Have you met the new guy in town?   He is the new kid at school.

11. Inexperienced or unaccustomed at some task.

    Don’t worry that you’re new at this job; you’ll get better with time.   I’m new at this business.

12. (of a period of time) Next; about to begin or recently begun.

    We expect to grow at 10% annually in the new decade.

Adverb

new (comparative more new, superlative most new)

1. Newly (especially in composition).

   new-born, new-formed, new-found, new-mown

2. As new; from scratch.

   They are scraping the site clean to build new.

Noun

new (usually uncountable, plural news)

1. Things that are new.

   Out with the old, in with the new.

2. (Australia) A kind of light beer.
3. (Britain, naval slang) A naval cadet who has just embarked on training.

Verb

new (third-person singular simple present news, present participle newing, simple past and past participle newed)

1. (programming) Synonym of new up
2. (obsolete) To make new; to recreate; to renew.