paper
UK[ˈpeɪpə]US[ˈpeɪpər]
n
A material manufactured in thin sheets from the pulp of wood or other fibrous substances, used for writing, drawing, printing, or as wrapping material.
n
A newspaper.
n
An official document or certificate.
n
An academic essay or thesis.
v
To cover or decorate with wallpaper.
Etymology
The word 'paper' has a rich journey from a specific plant to a ubiquitous material. It originates from the Greek 'pápȳros', the name for the papyrus plant native to the Nile Delta, from whose pith the ancient Egyptians crafted a writing surface. The term passed into Latin as 'papȳrus', retaining its reference to the plant and the prepared material. Entering English via Anglo-Norman French as 'papier', the word's meaning expanded and generalized. As production technology shifted from papyrus strips to pulped fibers, 'paper' evolved to denote the modern manufactured material, while still preserving its core association with writing and documentation.
Analysis
The word 'paper' is a simplex loanword. Its direct source is the Anglo-Norman and Old French 'papier', which came from Latin 'papȳrus', itself borrowed from Greek 'pápȳros'. The Greek term referred to the papyrus plant and the writing material made from it.
Examples
She wrote her phone number on a scrap of paper.
Have you seen today's paper? The headlines are shocking.
He needs to paper the bedroom before the new furniture arrives.