career

career
\ \ [16] Originally, a career was a ‘road or racetrack for vehicles’. Its ultimate source was Latin carruswheeled vehicle’ (from which we get car), which produced the Vulgar Latin derivative *carāriatrack for wheeled vehicles’.
\ \ This passed into English via Provençal carreira, Italian carriera, and French carrière. Its earliest meaning was ‘racecourse’, and hence, by extension, ‘swift course’; the main present-day sense ‘course of someone’s working life’ did not develop until the 19th century, probably owing to renewed influence of French carrière.
\ \ Cf.CAR

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Career — is a term defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as an individual s course or progress through life (or a distinct portion of life) . It usually is considered to pertain to remunerative work (and sometimes also formal education).A career is… …   Wikipedia

  • career — ca‧reer [kəˈrɪə ǁ ˈrɪr] noun [countable] JOBS HUMAN RESOURCES 1. a job or profession that you have been trained for and intend to do for your working life, and which offers the chance to be Promoted (= move up through different levels): • My son… …   Financial and business terms

  • Career — Ca*reer , n. [F. carri[ e]re race course, high road, street, fr. L. carrus wagon. See {Car}.] 1. A race course: the ground run over. [1913 Webster] To go back again the same career. Sir P. Sidney. [1913 Webster] 2. A running; full speed; a rapid… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • career — [kə rir′] n. [Fr carrière, road, racecourse < It carriera < VL carraria (via), carriage (road) < L carrus, CAR1] 1. Obs. a racing course 2. Archaic a swift course, as of the sun through the sky 3. one s progress through life or in one s… …   English World dictionary

  • career — (n.) 1530s, a running, course (especially of the sun, etc., across the sky), from M.Fr. carriere road, racecourse (16c.), from O.Prov. carriera, from V.L. * (via) cararia carriage (road), track for wheeled vehicles, from L. carrus chariot (see… …   Etymology dictionary

  • career — [n1] occupation bag*, calling, course, dodge*, employment, field, game*, job, lifework, livelihood, number*, pilgrimage, profession, pursuit, racket*, specialty, thing*, vocation, work; concepts 349,360 Ant. amusement, avocation, entertainment,… …   New thesaurus

  • career — ► NOUN 1) an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person s life, usually with opportunities for progress. 2) (before another noun ) working with long term commitment in a particular profession: a career diplomat. 3) (before another …   English terms dictionary

  • Career — Ca*reer , v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Careered} 3; p. pr. & vb. n. {Careering}] To move or run rapidly. [1913 Webster] Careering gayly over the curling waves. W. Irving. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • career — I noun activity, avocation, business, calling, chosen work, craft, curriculum, cursus, employment, field, job, lifework, line, livelihood, metier, occupation, office, position, post, profession, pursuit, situation, skilled occupation, specialty,… …   Law dictionary

  • career — I UK [kəˈrɪə(r)] / US [kəˈrɪr] noun [countable] Word forms career : singular career plural careers *** a job or series of related jobs that you do, especially a profession that you spend a lot of your working life in Choosing a career can be a… …   English dictionary

  • career — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun 1 series of jobs that a person has ADJECTIVE ▪ long ▪ brief, short ▪ brilliant, distinguished, glittering (esp. BrE), illustrious …   Collocations dictionary

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