THE SEMANTIC EVOLUTION OF THE TERM “DESIGN”

Abstract

The paper examines the semantic changes in the term “design”. The subject of the study is the term “design” at various stages of its use in European languages. The research is conducted using descriptive, comparative, systemic-structural, and historical-etymological methods. The history of the term has been examined retrospectively, along with the semantic shifts that have occurred throughout the word’s entire history, as well as its etymology. The results demonstrate that the word design was borrowed in the mid-20th century from English and has limited possibilities for word formation in Russian. The term originates from the Latin signum and, in its modern form, has been influenced by Italian, French, and other languages. The identified evolution confirms the role of extralinguistic factors in the formation of professional vocabulary. The study demonstrates that the term “design” is a vivid example of complex semantic shifts, обусловленных both internal linguistic patterns and extralinguistic factors. The article reconstructs its centuries‑long semantic trajectory, relying on both synchronic and diachronic approaches.