part with it
part with it (idiomatic phrase)
/ˈpɑːrt wɪð ɪt/
Meanings
- To give up something you value or own, often unwillingly.
- To let go of or dispose of something.
- To give something away or let go of something, especially something that is difficult to give up.
Synonyms: give up; let go; relinquish; dispose of; surrender.
Example Sentences
- She loved her old car so much that she couldn’t part with it, even after buying a new one.
- He finally decided to part with it and donated his antique clock to the museum.
- The company decided to part with some of its assets to reduce debt.
- He finally had to part with his old car after it broke down for the tenth time.
Origin and History
The phrase “part with it” is an idiomatic expression in English denoting the act of reluctantly giving up or surrendering possession of something valuable, often with a sense of attachment or loss. Its etymology traces back to the Middle English verb “parten,” derived from Old French “partir” and Latin “partire,” meaning to divide or separate.
Initially, in the mid-13th century, “part with” carried the sense of sharing or dividing something among parties, reflecting a communal or equitable distribution. By the late 16th century, the meaning shifted to imply relinquishment or surrender, emphasizing separation from an object or possession without reciprocity.
This evolution mirrors broader linguistic developments in English, where verbs of division took on emotional connotations of loss during the Early Modern period.
Historical Development and Usage
The history of “part with it” is intertwined with the expansion of English vernacular literature during the Elizabethan era, when printed works proliferated and idiomatic expressions gained standardization. Early uses often appeared in narratives involving inheritance, trade, or personal sacrifice, highlighting themes of reluctance and value. As English trade and colonization grew, the phrase likely reinforced cultural attitudes toward property and sentimentality, appearing in prose that depicted moral dilemmas over material goods.
Over centuries, it has persisted in literature and speech, evolving slightly in nuance but retaining its core implication of emotional difficulty in separation. By the 19th century, it featured prominently in Victorian novels exploring domestic economy and attachment, and today it endures in modern contexts like auctions or heirlooms, underscoring enduring human aversion to loss.
Country of Origin
The phrase “part with it” originated in England, emerging within the context of Early Modern English during the late 16th century. As a product of the burgeoning print culture in London and the surrounding regions, it first appeared in works by English authors addressing domestic and social themes. This aligns with England’s role as the epicenter of English language standardization through the printing press, where idioms like this one were disseminated via books and pamphlets. No evidence suggests prior usage in other English-speaking regions or influences from non-English languages, confirming its native English roots firmly in the Tudor period.
Earliest Printed Record
The earliest recorded printed use of “part with” in the sense of surrendering or giving up possession dates to 1583, in the second volume of George Pettie’s The Petite Palace of Pettie his Pleasure. Pettie, an English writer known for his euphuistic style, employed the phrase in a narrative context to convey reluctance:
“I will not part with it for any man’s pleasure.”
This work, first published in 1576 with expansions in 1581 and 1586, exemplifies the ornate prose of the era and marks the phrase’s transition from literal separation to idiomatic reluctance. It appeared in a collection of moral tales translated and adapted from classical sources, reflecting the phrase’s integration into sophisticated literary discourse by the mid-1580s. No earlier printed instances have been identified in comprehensive lexicographical surveys.
Variants
- part with something
- parted with it
- parting with it
Similar Idioms
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