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Does anyone know whether the word frequent started off as a descriptor or a verb (or something else)? When did it come into use as the other? I got to thinking about this when I thought of how people say, "on another board I frequent", but I know it was used as a verb long before the internet. If it started out as a descriptor, I wonder whether there was dissention over verbing it, just like we do now over some things?
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From MW, for what it's worth:
Etymology: Middle English, ample, abundant, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, crowded, from Latin frequent-, frequens crowded, frequent; probably akin to Latin farcire to stuff
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OED is pretty thorough in its coverage. The earliest verb sense, to use habitually or repeatedly, dates to 1485. The earliest adjectival sense, commonly used or practiced, well known, common, usual, dates to 1531. The more common modern adjectival sense, happening or occurring at short intervals, dates to 1601. The common modern verb sense, to visit or make use of (a place) often, dates to 1555.
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Whoa--thanks, Faldage! Talk about your complete answers! Though Google isn't a descriptor, the various uses of the word frequent reminded me of the fuss over Google being used as a verb. Hmm--I started to put becoming a verb; but that's not the same thing; implies something else altogether.
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