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Origin and history of phase

phase(n.)

1705, "phase of the moon, particular recurrent appearance presented by the moon (or Mercury or Venus) at a particular time," back-formed as a singular from Modern Latin phases, plural of phasis, from Greek phasis "appearance" (of a star), "phase" (of the moon), from stem of phainein "to show, to make appear" (from PIE root *bha- (1) "to shine").

Latin singular phasis was used in English from 1660 for each of the aspects of the moon. General (non-lunar) sense of "aspect, appearance, stage of development at a particular time" is attested by 1841. Meaning "temporary difficult period" (especially in reference to adolescents) is attested from 1913.

also from 1705

phase(v.)

"to synchronize, adjust the phase of so as to synchronize," 1895, from phase (n.) in the physics sense of "particular stage or point in a recurring sequence of movement or changes" (1861). Earlier as a bad spelling of faze. Meaning "to carry out gradually" is from 1949, hence phase in "introduce gradually" (1954), phase out "take out gradually in planned stages" (1954). Related: Phased; phasing.

also from 1895

Entries linking to phase

faze(v.)

1830, American English, said to be a variant of Kentish dialect feeze "to frighten, alarm, discomfit" (mid-15c.), from Old English fesian, fysian "drive away, send forth, put to flight," from Proto-Germanic *fausjan (source also of Swedish fösa "drive away," Norwegian föysa). Related: Fazed; fazing. Bartlett (1848) has it as to be in a feeze "in a state of excitement." There also is a nautical verb feaze "to unravel" (a rope), from 1560s.

anaphase(n.)

name of a stage of cell division, 1887, coined in German (1884), from Greek ana "back" (see ana-) + phase (n.).

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Trends of phase

adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/ with a 7-year moving average; ngrams are probably unreliable.

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stage

mid-13c., "horizontal division of a structure, floor or story of a building;" early 14c., "raised platform used for public display" (also of the platform beneath the gallows), from Old French estage "building, dwelling place; stage for performance; phase, stage, rest in a journey

form

c. 1200, forme, fourme, "semblance, image, likeness," from Old French forme, fourme, "physical form, appearance; pleasing looks; shape, image; way, manner" (12c.), from Latin forma "form, contour, figure, shape; appearance, looks; a fine form, beauty; an outline, a model, pattern

Hellenic

In modern use in the arts, Hellenic is used of Greek work from the close of the primitive phase to the time of Alexander...

rite

Rite of passage (1909), marking the end of one phase and the start of another in an individual life, is translated from French...

spasm

The figurative sense of "a sudden convulsion, abnormally energetic action or phase" (of emotion, politics, etc.) is attested...

neopaganism

[The 'positive' philosopher of the present day] offers in the stead of Christianity a specious phase of neo-paganism, by...

rapid

Rapid-transit first attested 1852, in reference to street railways; rapid eye movement, associated with a certain phase of...

arrange

late 14c., arengen, "draw up a line of battle," from Old French arengier "put in a row, put in battle order" (12c., Modern French arranger), from a- "to" (see ad-) + rangier "set in a row" (Modern French ranger), from rang "rank," from Frankish *hring or a similar Germanic source

generation

early 14c., "body of individuals born about the same period" (historically 30 years but in other uses as few as 17), on the notion of "descendants at the same stage in the line of descent," from Old French generacion "race, people, species; progeny, offspring; act of procreating"

culmination

1630s, in astronomy/astrology, "position of a heavenly body when it is on the meridian," from French culmination, noun of action from past participle stem of Late Latin culminare "to top, to crown," from Latin culmen (genitive culminis) "top, peak, summit, roof, gable," also used

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