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Origin and history of return

return(v.)

early 14c., returnen, "to come back, come or go back to a former position" (intransitive), from Old French retorner, retourner "turn back, turn round, return" (Modern French retourner), from re- "back" (see re-) + torner "to turn" (see turn (v.)). Also in part from Medieval Latin retornare, returnare.

The transitive sense of "report officially, give an official statement or account" (in answer to a writ or demand) is from early 15c.; "to send (someone or something) back" is by mid-15c.; that of "to turn back" is from c. 1500. Meaning "to give in repayment or recompense" is from 1590s; that of "give back, restore" is from c. 1600. Related: Returned; returning.

also from early 14c.

return(n.)

late 14c., "act of coming back" to a place or state, also "formal or official report of election results," from Anglo-French retorn, retourn, Old French retorne, retourne, verbal noun from retorner "turn back, turn round, return" (see return (v.)). Also in part from Medieval Latin returnum. Related: Returns.

The meaning "official report of the result of an election" is from mid-15c. The sense of "act of giving by way of recompense" is from 1540s. In ball games from 1833 (cricket); specifically in tennis from 1886. The meaning "a yield, a profit, gain" in some trade or occupation is recorded from 1620s. The sense of "a thing sent back" is from 1875.

To wish someone many happy returns of the day was in Addison (1716). The postal return address, to which an item is to be returned if it could not be delivered, is attested from 1879; return envelope, enclosed for the recipient's reply to a letter, is by 1886. The traveler's return ticket is by 1847.

also from late 14c.

Entries linking to return

turn(v.)

Middle English turnen, from late Old English turnian "rotate, revolve; move about an axis, center, or fixed position," also in part from Old French torner, tornier, Anglo-French turner "turn away or around; draw aside, cause to turn; change, transform; turn on a lathe" (Modern French tourner).

All are from Latin tornare "to polish, round off, fashion, turn on a lathe," from tornus "lathe," from Greek tornos "lathe, tool for drawing circles" (reconstructed in Watkins to be from PIE root *tere- (1) "to rub, turn").

From late 12c. as "change position or orientation so as to face or point in a different direction," hence "change course, go in a different direction." In reference to the tide, etc., "reverse course or direction," c. 1300.

Transitive senses in English are from c. 1200 as "cause to shift so as to face in a different direction;" by c. 1300 as "cause a change of course." Related: Turned; turning.

Many figurative senses and expressions (turn (something) into (something else)) likely grew from the notion of "shape (something) while rotating it on a lathe or wheel, form or fashion (a piece of wood or metal) with a chisel while the object is rotated," the classical sense, attested in English by mid-14c. "Execute in round outlines," hence "form, fashion, or shape in any way" (1610s).

From late 12c. as "cause to undergo transmutation from one substance to another." Hence "change in a character or property" (color, thickness, mass, etc.), c. 1300, also transitive. The sense of "become sour or tainted" is by 1570s.

Also from late 12c. as "lead to" (grief, advantage, etc.), "result as a consequence of;" from c. 1200 as "come to pass, happen, occur." Also from c, 1200 as "become inverted, assume a reverse or contrary position;" also "repel" (evil, danger); "rout in battle." By c. 1300 as "shift allegiance, shift loyalties, change sides," also transitive.

To turn down (v.) "reject" is recorded by 1891, American English. To turn in "go to bed" is attested from 1690s, originally nautical. Turn to "look to for help or hope, have recourse" is from late 14c.

To turn the stomach "nauseate" is recorded from 1620s. To turn (something) loose "set free" is recorded from 1590s. To turn up one's nose as an expression of contempt is attested from 1779.

returnable(adj.)

early 15c., "meant to be returned" (of court documents); mid-15c., "likely to return" (of Christ, chance, etc.), from return (v.) + -able. Meaning "capable of being returned" is from 1540s.

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