The phrase "gather together" has an interesting spelling. The /g/ sound at the beginning of the word is followed by the digraph /th/, which produces a voiceless dental fricative sound /ð/. Next comes the vowel sound /ə/ (schwa) followed by the /r/ sound, represented in IPA as /ɹ/. The word ends with the voiced dental fricative sound /ð/ again, produced by the digraph /th/. The phrase is pronounced as [gæðər təˈɡɛðər] in standard American English.
The term "gather together" refers to the act or process of assembling or uniting people, objects, or ideas in one place or group. It involves bringing individuals or elements together from various locations or sources to form a collective gathering or meeting.
When people gather together, they convene in a specific location or engage in activities that foster social interaction. This could occur in various settings, such as family gatherings, community events, or corporate meetings. The purpose behind these gatherings might be to celebrate, share information, discuss ideas, make decisions, or simply enjoy each other's company.
In addition to people, objects or items can also be gathered together. For instance, a collection of books can be gathered together on a shelf, or scattered toys can be gathered together in a toy box. This process involves organizing or assembling various items in one place for easier access or better organization.
Furthermore, gathering ideas or thoughts together is a cognitive process that involves bringing multiple concepts or strands of information into a coherent whole. It can involve brainstorming, analyzing different perspectives, or synthesizing knowledge from different sources to create a comprehensive understanding or solution.
Overall, the term "gather together" encompasses the act of uniting people, objects, or ideas in a collective or unified manner, involving physical or conceptual gathering for specific purposes.
The word "gather together" is actually a phrase rather than a single word. Therefore, it does not have an etymology of its own. However, we can look at the separate etymologies of the words "gather" and "together" to understand their origins.
- "Gather": The word "gather" originated from the Old English word "gaderian", which means "to bring together, unite, assemble". It can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "gadurōną", meaning "to join together, unite, bring together". This word further has connections to the Old High German word "gaterōn" and the Old Norse word "gadra".