key
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: enpr: kē
ipa: /kiː/
ipa: /ki/
rhymes: -iː
homophone: cay
homophone: ki
homophone: quay
Forms: form: keys
form: keying
form: keyed
form: keyed
Etymology: From Middle English keye, kaye, keiȝe, from Old English cǣġ (“key, solution, experiment”) (whence also Scots key and kay (“key”)), of uncertain origin. The only sure cognates are Saterland Frisian Koai (“key”), West Frisian kaai (“key”), and North Frisian kai, koie (“key”). Possibly from Proto-Germanic *kēgaz, *kēguz (“stake, post, pole”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵogʰ-, *ǵegʰ-, *ǵegʰn- (“branch, stake, bush”), which would make it cognate with Middle Low German kāk (“whipping post, pillory”), and perhaps to Middle Dutch keige (“javelin, spear”) and Middle Low German keie, keige (“spear”).
For the semantic development, note that medieval keys were simply long poles (ending in a hook) with which a crossbar obstructing a door from the inside could be removed from the outside, by lifting it through a hole in the door. Liberman has noted, however, "The original meaning of *kaig-jo- was presumably '*pin with a twisted end.' Words with the root *kai- followed by a consonant meaning 'crooked, bent; twisted' are common only in the North Germanic languages."
Senses: glosses: To fit (a lock) with a key.
glosses: To fit (pieces of a mechanical assembly) with a key to maintain the orientation between them.
examples: text: So I worked on a tissue-paper copy of the perimeter plan, outlining groupings of plants of the same species and keying them with letters for the species.
ref: 1996 January, Garden Dsign Ideas, second printing, Taunton Press, →ISBN, page 25:
text: The volume closes with thirty pages of "Notes, critical and explanatory," in which Thomson provides seventy-six longer or shorter notes keyed to specific sections of the synopsis.
ref: 2001, Bruce M. Metzger, The Bible in Translation, →ISBN, page 87:
text: Talk about similarities between the words and write them below to the left of the anchor, keying them with a plus sign (+). Talk about the characteristics that set the words apart and list them below the box to the right, keying them with a tilde sign (~).
ref: 2002, Karen Bromley, Stretching Students' Vocabulary, →ISBN, page 12:
text: 2007, Stephen Blake Mettee, Michelle Doland, and Doris Hall, compilers, The American Directory of Writer's Guidelines, 6th ("2007–2008") edition, →ISBN, page 757,
Indicate the comparative value of each heading by keying it with a number in pencil, in the left margin, as follows: […]
glosses: To mark or indicate with a symbol indicating membership in a class.
topics: broadcasting
communications
electrical-engineering
engineering
media
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
radio
telecommunications
telegraphy
glosses: To depress (a telegraph key).
topics: broadcasting
media
radio
glosses: To operate (the transmitter switch of a two-way radio).
examples: Our instructor told us to key in our user IDs.
topics: computing
engineering
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
sciences
glosses: (more usually to key in) To enter (information) by typing on a keyboard or keypad.
examples: text: He keyed the car that had taken his parking spot.
glosses: To vandalize (a car, etc.) by scratching with an implement such as a key.
examples: text: The American Heart Association has prepared their own guide to classification and, keying it with the Standard Nomenclature of Diseases, have done much to encourage a concise yet complete diagnosis.
ref: 1960, Richard L. Masland, “Classification of the Epilepsies”, in Epilepsia, volume 1, page 516:
text: The workman's compensation system rests on incentives (premium payments) that are keyed to the immediate and relatively undeniable nature of injuries; […]
ref: 1976, Nicholas Askounes Ashford, Crisis in the Workplace: Occupational Disease and Injury, page 19:
text: It also features special issues on "Live Longer, Better, Wiser," men's health, women's health, and issues keyed to important "disease weeks."
ref: 2006, Deborah Blum, Mary Knudson, Robin Marantz Henig, A Field Guide for Science Writers: The Official Guide of the National Association of Science Writers, page 63:
glosses: To link (as one might do with a key or legend).
topics: biology
natural-sciences
taxonomy
glosses: To be identified as a certain taxon when using a key.
examples: text: Keying advertisements and counting the number of inquiries received or the number of coupons returned to indicate the "pulling power" of a particular piece of copy or the coverage of a particular advertising medium.
ref: 1936, John Freeman Pyle, Marketing Principles, Organization and Policies, page 711:
text: Another popular way to key ads and mailings is to use a suite number, room number, department number, desk number, etc. as part of the ordering address. With a classified ad, using such a key may increase your ad cost. Why? Because you're using an extra word or two to key the ad.
ref: 1998, Mail Order Success Secrets:
topics: advertising
business
marketing
glosses: To modify (an advertisement) so as to target a particular group or demographic.
examples: text: To Ethel alone she addressed a stray remark, keyed below the sound of other voices.
ref: 1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, →OCLC, page 23:
glosses: To attune to; to set at; to pitch.
examples: text: they Mouldered and keyed the Portico Arches with Pieces of Stone, because Brick was not strong enough
ref: 1744, Roger North, The Life of the Honourable Sir Dudley North:
glosses: To fasten or secure firmly; to fasten or tighten with keys or wedges.
glosses: To prepare for plastering by adding the key (that part of the plastering which is forced through between the laths and holds the rest in place).
examples: text: The last arch in the permanant ^([sic]) bridge was keyed on March 26, 1850, and a single track was brought into use for goods trains on July 20.
ref: 1950 September, “Centenary of the Royal Border Bridge”, in Railway Magazine, page 637:
glosses: To provide an arch with a keystone.
examples: text: After keying the background, you’d be left with a transparent background, where you can install anything—from images to videos that blend seamlessly into the main subject of the shot.
ref: 2021 September 11, Anina Ot, “What Is a Green Screen and How Does It Work?”, in MakeUseOf:
glosses: Clipping of chromakey.
Derived terms: keyed up
key in
key in on
key off
key on
key out