read-only
Meaning
(of a computer file or memory) able to be viewed or copied but not changed or deleted.
(of a device or mode of operation) allowing data to be read but not written or modified.
Structure
Usage
The configuration file is set to read-only to prevent accidental changes.
She booted the computer from a read-only USB drive to run diagnostics safely.
The document was shared in a read-only format, so collaborators could view but not edit it.
Etymology
The term "read-only" is a modern English compound formed from two native Germanic words. "Read" evolved from the Old English verb rǣdan, which originally encompassed meanings of advising, interpreting, and explaining, before specializing to the interpretation of written symbols. "Only" derives from Old English ānlīc, meaning "one-like" or "single," which developed an adverbial sense of "exclusively." In computing terminology, coined in the mid-20th century, the compound "read-only" logically describes a state or mode where data access is restricted to the single, exclusive action of reading, explicitly prohibiting writing or modification. This transparent compounding directly links the literal meanings of its components to its precise technical function.
Analysis
- read: From Old English rǣdan (to advise, interpret, read). In this compound, it functions as a verb root meaning "to access and interpret data." - only: From Old English ānlīc (one-like, single, solitary). In this compound, it functions as an adjective/adverb meaning "exclusively, solely, with no other possibility."