teach (v.)
Middle English tēchen, from Old English tæcan (past tense tæhte, past participle tæht) "to show (transitive), point out, declare; demonstrate," also "give instruction, train, assign, direct; warn; persuade."
This is reconstructed to be from Proto-Germanic *taikijan "to show" (source also of Old High German zihan, German zeihen "to accuse," Gothic ga-teihan "to announce"), from PIE root *deik- "to show, point out." It is related to Old English tacen, tacn "sign, mark" (see token). The notion is "to show how to do something by way of information or instruction." Related: Taught; teaching.
By mid-14c. as "disseminate" a system of belief. By c. 1200 as "indicate" how something is to happen; used by 1560s in threats, "make known to one at a cost."
Enraged lemonade vendor (Edgar Kennedy): I'll teach you to kick me!
Chico: you don't have to teach me, I know how. [kicks him]
["Duck Soup," 1933]
The usual sense of Old English tæcan was "show, declare, warn, persuade" (compare German zeigen "to show," from the same root); while the Old English word for "to teach, instruct, guide" was more commonly læran, source of modern learn and lore.
Trends of teach
updated on January 25, 2024
Trending words
Dictionary entries near teach
tea
tea party
teabag
tea-ball
teaberry
teach
teachable
teacher
teacherage
teachership
teaching