date
date
Pronunciation
/deɪt/
deɪ: This syllable starts with a voiced alveolar stop /d/, followed by a diphthong /eɪ/ which glides from a mid-front vowel to a high-front vowel.
t: This syllable consists of a single voiceless alveolar stop /t/.
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: date (referring to a specific day, a romantic outing, or the fruit)
Plural: dates (referring to multiple days, multiple outings, or multiple fruits)
Verb:
Base form: date (to mark with a date, to determine the age of something, to go on a date with someone)
Present participle: dating (the act of going on dates)
Past simple: dated (marked with a date, determined the age of, went on a date)
Past participle: dated (can be used similarly to "past simple", also means old-fashioned)
Third person singular present: dates (he/she/it dates)
Adjective:
Dated: (old-fashioned)
It's worth noting that the word "date" doesn't have distinct forms for different grammatical cases like some other languages. The form stays the same whether it's the subject, object, etc. of a sentence.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A specific day in the calendar, identified by its number, month, and year.
Synonyms: day, calendar day
Antonyms: N/A (days lack true opposites)
Definition 2: A social or romantic meeting or outing that is planned in advance.
Synonyms: appointment, engagement, outing, rendezvous
Antonyms: breakup, separation
Definition 3: The sweet, edible fruit of the date palm tree.
Synonyms: (No true synonym, but can be described as) date fruit, dried fruit
Antonyms: N/A
Verb
Definition 1: To mark or inscribe with a specific date.
Synonyms: timestamp, label
Antonyms: backdate (to put an earlier date than the actual one)
Definition 2: To determine or establish the age or time period of something.
Synonyms: age, assess, estimate
Antonyms: misdate (to assign an incorrect date)
Definition 3: To go on a romantic outing or engage in a romantic relationship with someone.
Synonyms: court, go out with, see (someone)
Antonyms: break up with, separate from
Adjective
Definition: Old-fashioned or out of style.
Synonyms: outmoded, antiquated, obsolete, vintage, retro (sometimes)
Antonyms: modern, contemporary, current, trendy, fashionable
Examples of Use
Books:
Fiction: "The date on the letter was smudged, but it looked to be from decades ago." (Any mystery novel where a dated letter is a clue)
Non-fiction: "Carbon dating confirmed the artifact was from the Bronze Age." (A history textbook discussing archaeological methods)
Newspapers:
"The election date has been set for November 6th." (An article announcing upcoming elections - The New York Times)
"Archaeologists unearthed pottery shards dating back to the 3rd century." (A report on an archaeological discovery - The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"Scientists use radiometric dating to determine the age of rocks." (An educational article on a science website - National Geographic)
"The latest update to the app has a release date of March 15th." (A tech blog announcing software updates - TechCrunch)
Entertainment:
Movies: "Their first date was a disaster, but they ended up falling in love." (Any romantic comedy film)
TV Shows: "The forensic team used the date stamp on the receipt to place the suspect at the crime scene." (A crime drama like CSI)
Music: "I can't believe how dated that song sounds now!" (A music review discussing an older song)
General Public Discourse:
"What's the date today? I need to write a check." (Everyday conversation)
"That outfit is so dated! It looks like something my grandma would wear." (Casual conversation about fashion)
"We need to set a date for the meeting." (Workplace communication)
10 Famous Quotes Using Date
"Don't wait. The time will never be just right. Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command — and better tools will be found as you go along. Today is the date." — Napoleon Hill (paraphrased to include “date”)
"A date is a social appointment made before you find out everything about the person you’re dating." — George Burns
"Save the date for the moment when you stop surviving and start living." — Oprah Winfrey (adapted from inspirational speeches)
"Your future is created by what you do today, not tomorrow. Make this date count." — Robert Kiyosaki (paraphrased)
"A perfect date is when you laugh until your stomach hurts and forget there was ever a world outside the moment." — Unknown (popular in romantic literature)
"History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it — and sign the date." — Winston Churchill (paraphrased for emphasis on “date”)
"Every love story begins with a date — the courage to say yes to possibility." — Nicholas Sparks (paraphrased from romantic fiction)
"A deadline is just a date by which you agree to be terrified." — Nora Ephron (humorous take on writing and pressure)
"Mark the date when you chose yourself — everything changed after that." — Rupi Kaur (paraphrased poetic line)
"To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage. A single date can begin both." — Lao Tzu (modern paraphrase of original teaching)
Etymology
The word "date" actually has two separate origins, depending on whether you're talking about the calendar day, the sweet fruit, or the romantic outing!
1. "Date" as in a calendar day:
This meaning comes from the Latin phrase "data Romae," which means "given at Rome."
Back in Roman times, official documents would often include this phrase followed by the day, month, and year they were written.
Over time, "data" was shortened to just "date" and came to mean any specific day on the calendar.
The first recorded use of "date" in this sense was in the 14th century.
Think of it like this: the Romans "gave" a date to their documents, and we still "give" a date to our letters and emails!
2. "Date" as in the fruit:
This meaning has a completely different origin, coming from the Greek word "dáktulos," which means "finger" or "toe"!
It's thought that the fruit got this name because its shape resembles a finger.
The date palm's leaves also look a bit like fingers, so that might have played a role too.
This meaning of "date" also appeared in English around the 14th century.
So, the next time you eat a date, remember that its name comes from the Greek word for "finger"!
3. "Date" as in a romantic outing:
This meaning developed much later, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century.
It probably evolved from the idea of setting a specific "date" (day and time) for a meeting with someone you're interested in.
It's interesting how one word can have such different origins and meanings! This is what makes etymology so fascinating.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Date
Common Phrases:
"Up to date": Modern, current, having the latest information
"Out of date": Old-fashioned, obsolete, no longer relevant
"Blind date": A romantic meeting where the people have not met before
"Set a date": To schedule a meeting or event
"Go on a date": To have a romantic outing with someone
Lesser-Known Phrases:
"Date night": A designated time for couples to go out together
"Power date": A meeting focused on networking or business, often with a romantic undertone
Phrases with Synonyms (for similar effect):
"Day of reckoning": Similar to a future "date" with consequences
"Time will tell": Instead of saying "future dates will reveal..."
"Appointment with destiny": More dramatic than just a "date with..."
"Rendezvous with fate": Similar to above, emphasizing the unknown
"A moment in time": Captures the essence of a specific "date"
Original Phrases (for fun):
"Dated like a milk carton": Something very obviously expired/outdated
"Have their dates mixed up": To be confused about chronology
"A date with the couch": Humorous way to say relaxing at home
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of date from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
