date

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, ultimately from Latin dactylus — more at dactyl Date: 14th century 1. the oblong edible fruit of a palm (Phoenix dactylifera) 2. the tall palm with pinnate leaves that yields the date II. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin data, from data (as in data Romae given at Rome), feminine of Latin datus, past participle of dare to give; akin to Latin dos gift, dowry, Greek didonai to give Date: 14th century 1. a. the time at which an event occurs <

the date of his birth

> b. a statement of the time of execution or making <

the date on the letter

> 2. duration 3. the period of time to which something belongs 4. a. an appointment to meet at a specified time; especially a social engagement between two persons that often has a romantic character b. a person with whom one has a usually romantic date 5. an engagement for a professional performance (as of a dance band) III. verb (dated; dating) Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. to determine the date of <

date an antique

> 2. to record the date of ; mark with the date 3. a. to mark with characteristics typical of a particular period b. to show up plainly the age of 4. to make or have a date with intransitive verb 1. to reckon chronologically 2. originate <

a friendship dating from college days

> 3. to become dated 4. to go out on usually romantic dates • datable also dateable adjective • dater noun