lunge
UK[lʌndʒ]US[lʌndʒ]
n
A sudden forward movement of the body, typically with an arm outstretched to attack or grasp something.
v
To make a sudden forward movement, especially in order to attack or seize something.
Etymology
The word 'lunge' entered English in the 1730s as a fencing term, borrowed directly from the French 'allonger', meaning "to extend, to stretch out". This French verb itself originates from the Old French 'alongier', based on the Latin phrase 'ad longum', meaning "to length". The core semantic logic is one of elongation and extension. Over time, the initial 'a-' was lost through aphesis, a common linguistic process, resulting in the shorter, more forceful English verb 'lunge'. The meaning evolved from the specific, controlled extension of a sword in fencing to describe any sudden, forceful forward thrust of the body.
Analysis
The word 'lunge' is a simplex word derived as a whole from French. It does not contain separable, productive morphemes in modern English.
Examples
The fencer made a quick lunge towards his opponent's chest.
The dog lunged at the fence when the mail carrier approached.
In a desperate lunge, she managed to grab the railing before falling.