MW→occupation

occupation

EnglishMerriam-Webster Dictionary

medium-blue' role='heading' aria-level='2'>First Known Use

Noun

before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

History and Etymology

Noun

Middle English egge, going back to Old English ecg "cutting side of a blade, border," going back to Germanic *agjō "cutting side of a blade" (whence also Old Frisian eg "cutting side of a blade, sword," Old Saxon eggia, Old High German egga, ekka "cutting side of a blade, border, point, corner," Old Norse egg "cutting side of a blade"), feminine noun derivative from Indo-European *h₂eḱ- "sharp, pointed," whence also Latin aciēs "sharp part of a weapon"

NOTE: The base *h₂eḱ- "sharp, pointed" was productive of a large number of suffixed derivatives in the Indo-European daughter languages. Latin had a verbal base deriving from h₂eḱ-eh₁- "to be sharp" (see acetic acid, acid entry 2) and a presumed adjectival stem *acū- "sharp" (see acute). An apparently isolated derivative is Greek akmḗ "highest point" (see acme). For the derivative *h₂eḱ-r-/h₂oḱ-r-, with outcomes in Greek, Latin, and other languages, see acro-, mediocre. See also awn, ear entry 2.

Verb

Middle English eggen "to set (the teeth) on edge," derivative of egge edge entry 1

edge

verb

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

to make sharp or sharper //if you edge the tip of that stick, it should be a fine skewer for roasting marshmallows
Synonyms

grind hone sharpen stone strop whet
Related Words

file
Near Antonyms

buff burnish gloss polish round smooth
Antonyms

blunt dull
to serve as a border for //pavement edging the flower bed
Synonyms

border bound frame fringe margin rim skirt
Related Words

hem trim
circumscribe define delineate demarcate outline silhouette sketch trace
circle compass encircle enclose (also inclose) environ girdle girth loop ring round surround wall
check confine control curb limit restrain restrict

noun

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 2 of 2)

a harsh or sharp quality //the teacher's voice had a sarcastic edge as she welcomed the tardy student to class
Synonyms

acerbity acidity acidness acridity acridness acrimoniousness acrimony acuteness asperity bite bitterness harshness keenness poignance poignancy pungency roughness sharpness tartness
Related Words

ginger punch spice tang
raucousness severeness severity shrillness virulence vitriol
cattiness maliciousness
pointedness thorniness
Near Antonyms

gentleness kindliness
Antonyms

mildness softness
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something //the design along the edge of the plate is badly worn
Synonyms

border borderline bound boundary brim circumference compass confines edging end frame fringe hem margin perimeter periphery rim skirt skirting verge
medium-blue' role='heading' aria-level='2'>First Known Use
Noun
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

History and Etymology

Noun

Verb

Middle English eggen "to set (the teeth) on edge," derivative of egge edge entry 1

edge

verb

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

to make sharp or sharper //if you edge the tip of that stick, it should be a fine skewer for roasting marshmallows
Synonyms

grind hone sharpen stone strop whet
Related Words

file
Near Antonyms

buff burnish gloss polish round smooth
Antonyms

blunt dull
to serve as a border for //pavement edging the flower bed
Synonyms

border bound frame fringe margin rim skirt
Related Words

hem trim
circumscribe define delineate demarcate outline silhouette sketch trace
circle compass encircle enclose (also inclose) environ girdle girth loop ring round surround wall
check confine control curb limit restrain restrict

noun

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 2 of 2)

a harsh or sharp quality //the teacher's voice had a sarcastic edge as she welcomed the tardy student to class
Synonyms

acerbity acidity acidness acridity acridness acrimoniousness acrimony acuteness asperity bite bitterness harshness keenness poignance poignancy pungency roughness sharpness tartness
Related Words

ginger punch spice tang
raucousness severeness severity shrillness virulence vitriol
cattiness maliciousness
pointedness thorniness
Near Antonyms

gentleness kindliness
Antonyms

mildness softness
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something //the design along the edge of the plate is badly worn
Synonyms

border borderline bound boundary brim circumference compass confines edging end frame fringe hem margin perimeter periphery rim skirt skirting verge
medium-blue' role='heading' aria-level='2'>First Known Use
Noun
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

History and Etymology

Noun

Verb

Middle English eggen "to set (the teeth) on edge," derivative of egge edge entry 1

edge

verb

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

to make sharp or sharper //if you edge the tip of that stick, it should be a fine skewer for roasting marshmallows
Synonyms

grind hone sharpen stone strop whet
Related Words

file
Near Antonyms

buff burnish gloss polish round smooth
Antonyms

blunt dull
to serve as a border for //pavement edging the flower bed
Synonyms

border bound frame fringe margin rim skirt
Related Words

hem trim
circumscribe define delineate demarcate outline silhouette sketch trace
circle compass encircle enclose (also inclose) environ girdle girth loop ring round surround wall
check confine control curb limit restrain restrict

noun

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 2 of 2)

a harsh or sharp quality //the teacher's voice had a sarcastic edge as she welcomed the tardy student to class
Synonyms

acerbity acidity acidness acridity acridness acrimoniousness acrimony acuteness asperity bite bitterness harshness keenness poignance poignancy pungency roughness sharpness tartness
Related Words

ginger punch spice tang
raucousness severeness severity shrillness virulence vitriol
cattiness maliciousness
pointedness thorniness
Near Antonyms

gentleness kindliness
Antonyms

mildness softness
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something //the design along the edge of the plate is badly worn
Synonyms

border borderline bound boundary brim circumference compass confines edging end frame fringe hem margin perimeter periphery rim skirt skirting verge
medium-blue' role='heading' aria-level='2'>First Known Use
Noun
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

History and Etymology

Noun

Verb

Middle English eggen "to set (the teeth) on edge," derivative of egge edge entry 1

edge

verb

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

to make sharp or sharper //if you edge the tip of that stick, it should be a fine skewer for roasting marshmallows
Synonyms

grind hone sharpen stone strop whet
Related Words

file
Near Antonyms

buff burnish gloss polish round smooth
Antonyms

blunt dull
to serve as a border for //pavement edging the flower bed
Synonyms

border bound frame fringe margin rim skirt
Related Words

hem trim
circumscribe define delineate demarcate outline silhouette sketch trace
circle compass encircle enclose (also inclose) environ girdle girth loop ring round surround wall
check confine control curb limit restrain restrict

noun

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 2 of 2)

a harsh or sharp quality //the teacher's voice had a sarcastic edge as she welcomed the tardy student to class
Synonyms

acerbity acidity acidness acridity acridness acrimoniousness acrimony acuteness asperity bite bitterness harshness keenness poignance poignancy pungency roughness sharpness tartness
Related Words

ginger punch spice tang
raucousness severeness severity shrillness virulence vitriol
cattiness maliciousness
pointedness thorniness
Near Antonyms

gentleness kindliness
Antonyms

mildness softness
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something //the design along the edge of the plate is badly worn
Synonyms

border borderline bound boundary brim circumference compass confines edging end frame fringe hem margin perimeter periphery rim skirt skirting verge