From OE 'grēat' (big, coarse), related to 'groats' — greatness originally described rough-ground grain, not excellence.
Of an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above average; remarkable or outstanding in importance or ability.
From Old English 'grēat,' meaning 'big, tall, thick, stout, coarse,' from Proto-Germanic *grautaz, meaning 'coarse, thick-grained.' The word is related to Proto-Germanic *grūtą (coarse meal, groats), suggesting the original sense was a physical texture — something coarsely ground, hence large-grained, hence large. The semantic shift from physical bulk to metaphorical greatness (importance, eminence) occurred gradually through
The word 'great' is etymologically related to 'groats' (hulled grain) — both trace back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning 'coarse-grained.' The original sense of 'great' was not 'excellent' but 'thick' or 'bulky,' a meaning it still retains in phrases like 'great with child' (heavily pregnant).
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