*SET-U

CANONICAL RELATIONSHIP RECORD

COVERAGE LEDGER ↗
EDGE / 0970continuationestablished

A CLAIM
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A relationship—not a generated explanation. Both endpoints, every editorial field, every citation, and every dossier reuse are preserved below.

CHILD / LATER FORM / attestedPresent-Day English · 14th century–today · invented shaped narrative

fiction

invented narrative; imaginative creation; pretense; legal assumption

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DESCENDS FROM→
PARENT / EARLIER FORM / attestedMiddle English · Middle English · mental invention

ficcioun

invention of the mind

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01

THE COMPLETE RELATIONSHIP

EVERY FIELD, NOT A FAIRY TALE

SOUND CHANGE

Middle English ficcioun develops into modern fiction through French-influenced spelling and English pronunciation.

SEMANTIC CHANGE

Mental invention expands into narrative, imaginative, legal, and pretense senses.

CHRONOLOGY

First known English use is reported in the fourteenth century.

SCHOLAR / EDITORIAL AUTHORITY

Merriam-Webster Editors

CONFIDENCE

established — no additional confidence note is attached.

EDITORIAL STATUS

reviewed

02

CITATION REGISTER

SOURCES ON THIS EDGE

S01
Fiction — Definition, Word History, and First Known UseWord history and first known use: 14th century

Publishes the English chronology and Middle English form.

supportsAUDIT SOURCE ↗ORIGINAL ↗
03

EDITORIAL REUSE

WHERE THIS CLAIM APPEARS

RELATION / 863fiction

fiction → ficcioun

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