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model [model 词源字典]: model: [16] Latin modus meant originally ‘measure’ (it came from the same Indo- European base, *met-, *med-, as produced English measure and metre). It subsequently spread out semantically to ‘size’, ‘limit’, ‘way, method’, and ‘rhythm, harmony’. From it was derived the diminutive form modulus, source of English modulate [16], module [16], and mould ‘form’.

It was altered in Vulgar Latin to *modellus, and passed into English via Italian modello and early modern French modelle. Its original application in English was to an ‘architect’s plans’, but the familiar modern sense ‘three-dimensional representation’ is recorded as early as the start of the 17th century. The notion of an ‘artist’s model’ emerged in the late 17th century, but a ‘model who shows off clothes’ is an early 20th-century development.

Other English descendants of modus include modern, modicum [15], modify [14], and of course mode [16] itself (of which mood ‘set of verb forms’ is an alteration).
=> measure, mete, metre, mode, modern, modulate, mood, mould[model etymology, model origin, 英语词源]
mould: mould: English has three words mould. By some way the oldest is ‘earth, soil’ [OE], which comes ultimately from the Indo-European base *mel-, *mol-, *ml- ‘grind’ (source also of English meal ‘flour’, mill, etc). Moulder [16] may be derived from it. Mould ‘form’ [13] is assumed to come from Old French modle ‘form, shape, pattern’.

This was descended from Latin modulus ‘small measure’ (source of English module), a diminutive form of modus ‘measure’ (source of English mode, model, etc). Mould ‘fungus’ [15] appears to have originated as an adjective, meaning ‘mouldy’. This in turn was an adjectival use of the past participle of a now obsolete verb moul ‘go mouldy’, which was borrowed from an assumed Old Norse *mugla.
=> meal, mill, molar, moulder; mode, model, mood
model (n.): 1570s, "likeness made to scale; architect's set of designs," from Middle French modelle (16c., Modern French modèle), from Italian modello "a model, mold," from Vulgar Latin *modellus, from Latin modulus "a small measure, standard," diminutive of modus "manner, measure" (see mode (n.1)).

Sense of "thing or person to be imitated" is 1630s. Meaning "motor vehicle of a particular design" is from 1900 (such as Model T, 1908; Ford's other early models included C, F, and B). Sense of "artist's model" is first recorded 1690s; that of "fashion model" is from 1904. German, Swedish modell, Dutch, Danish model are from French or Italian.
modular (adj.): 1798, as a term in mathematics, from French modulaire or directly from Modern Latin modularis, from Latin modulus "a small measure" (see module). Meaning "composed of interchangeable units" first recorded 1936.
modulation (n.): late 14c., "act of singing or making music," from Old French modulation "act of making music" (14c.), or directly from Latin modulationem (nominative modulatio) "rhythmical measure, singing and playing, melody," noun of action from past participle stem of modulari "regulate, measure off properly, measure rhythmically; play, play upon," from modulus (see module). Meaning "act of regulating according to measure or proportion" is from 1530s. Musical sense of "action of process of changing key" is first recorded 1690s.
module (n.): 1580s, "allotted measure," from Middle French module (1540s) or directly from Latin modulus "small measure," diminutive of modus "measure, manner" (see mode (n.1)). Meaning "interchangeable part" first recorded 1955; that of "separate section of a spacecraft" is from 1961.
mold (n.1): also mould, "hollow shape," c. 1200, originally "fashion, form; nature, native constitution, character," metathesized from Old French modle "model, plan, copy; way, manner" (12c., Modern French moule), from Latin modulum (nominative modulus) "measure, model," diminutive of modus "manner" (see mode (1)). From c. 1300 as "pattern or model by which something is shaped or made." To break the mold "render impossible the creation of another" is from 1560s.