the meaning «speech, talk, word». The meaning «promise» was in Old English as was the theological sense. In the plural, the meaning «verbal altercation».
A word to the wise is from Latin phrase verbum sapienti satis est – a word to the wise is enough.
Word of mouth is recorded from 1550s.
Word processor – 1st recorded 1973.
Examples:
It is dangerous to leave written that which is badly written.
A chance word, upon paper, may destroy the world.
• a single unit of language
• brief statement, news
• a promise
• a quarrel
• a text( pl.)
• a role (in a play)
• an order