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Etymology data from Wiktionary via Wiktextract (CC BY-SA 4.0). Chinese character data from the 說文解字, the Taiwan MOE 國語辭典簡編本 (CC BY-ND 3.0 TW) and HSK/TOCFL lists.

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English

open

/ˈəʊ.pən/
Able to have something pass through or along it.

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    Origin

    Adjective from Middle English open, from Old English open (“open”), from Proto-West Germanic *opan, from Proto-Germanic *upanaz (“open”), from Proto-Indo-European *upo (“up from under, over”).

    Cognates

    * Scots apen (“open”)

    * Saterland Frisian eepen (“open”)

    * West Frisian iepen (“open”)

    * Cimbrian offe (“open”)

    * Dutch open (“open”)

    * German offen (“open”)

    * Vilamovian ufa, uffa (“open”)

    * Yiddish אָפֿן (ofn, “open”)

    * Danish åben (“open”)

    * Icelandic opinn (“open”)

    * Norwegian Bokmål åpen (“open”)

    * Norwegian Nynorsk open (“open”)

    * Swedish öppen (“open”)

    Compare also Latin supinus (“on one's back, supine”), Albanian hap (“to open”). Related to up.

    Verb from Middle English openen, from Old English openian (“to open”), from Proto-West Germanic *opanōn, from Proto-Germanic *upanōną (“to raise; lift; open”), from Proto-Germanic *upanaz (“open”, adjective). Cognate with Saterland Frisian eepenje (“to open”), West Frisian iepenje (“to open”), Dutch openen (“to open”), German öffnen (“to open”), Danish åbne (“to open”), Swedish öppna (“to open”), Norwegian Bokmål åpne (“to open”), Norwegian Nynorsk and Icelandic opna (“to open”). Related to English up.

    Noun from Middle English open (“an aperture or opening”), from the verb. In the sports sense, however, a shortening of “open competition”.

    From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

    Lineage

    • inheritedMiddle Englishopen
      • inheritedOld Englishopen “open”
        • inheritedProto-West Germanic*opan
          • inheritedProto-Germanic*upanaz
            • derivedProto-Germanic*upp “up”
              • derivedProto-Germanic*ub
                • inheritedProto-Indo-European*upó “from below; up”

    Related: English up, Scots apen, Saterland Frisian eepen, West Frisian iepen, Cimbrian offe, Dutch open, German offen, Vilamovian ufa, Yiddish אָפֿן, Danish åben, Icelandic opinn, Norwegian Bokmål åpen, Norwegian Nynorsk open, Swedish öppen, Latin supinus, Albanian hap, Saterland Frisian eepenje, West Frisian iepenje, Dutch openen, German öffnen, Danish åbne, Swedish öppna, Norwegian Bokmål åpne, Icelandic opna

    Words built on it: open world, opening

    Meanings

    adj
    1. Able to have something pass through or along it.
    2. Not covered, sealed, etc.; having an opening or aperture showing what is inside.
    3. Not physically drawn together, folded or contracted.
    4. Of a space, free of objects and obstructions.
    5. Resulting from an incision, puncture or any other process by which the skin no longer protects an internal part of the body.
    6. Unlocked or unlatched but not physically open.
    verb
    1. To make or become accessible or clear for passage by moving from a shut position.
    2. To make or become clear by removal of objects and obstructions, so as to allow passage, access, or visibility.
    3. To unseal or uncover, or become unsealed or uncovered.
    4. To spread; to expand into a wider or looser position.
    5. To make (a bed) ready for a patient by folding back the bedcovers.
    6. To reveal one's hand.
    noun
    1. Open or unobstructed space; an exposed location.
    2. Public knowledge or scrutiny; full view.
    3. A defect in an electrical circuit preventing current from flowing.
    4. A sports event in which anybody can compete, especially or originally irrespective of amateur or professional status.
    5. The act of something being opened, such as an e-mail message.

    Sources

    • Wiktionary (via Wiktextract / kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
    • Wiktionary: open