A guide is ... Meaning, synonyms, etymology

Guide - what is it? When pronouncing this word, we usually understand that we are talking about a person who conducts excursions. But it turns out that everything is not so simple. This short word has a large number of meanings, about which many do not even suspect. So, let's broaden our horizons, and, having patience, conduct an “investigation” to find out more about the fact that this is a guide?

What is said in the dictionary?

To dive into all the nuances of the meaning of the word "guide", it is advisable to turn to their dictionary interpretation. Many options are given here, among which are the following:

Guiding the group
  • A guide who introduces tourists to the sights of a particular area. Example: “In the agreement on the provision of travel services, it was indicated that if a customer has any complaints, they must be written and certified with the signature of a guide.”
Michelin Red Guide
  • A special book, guide, guide or service that points to all local attractions - exhibitions, museums, restaurants Example: “If you want to find a really good restaurant in Paris with a lot of food changes and decent service, contact the Michelin Guide.”

At bibliographers and astronomers

In addition to the above, the word we study has other meanings. Consider them.

  • In some cases, this is called bibliographic indexes - lists of published documents, such as books, articles in newspapers and magazines. As a rule, they are united by a certain feature, equipped with auxiliary indices that facilitate the search for materials and their grouping. Example: “By their purpose, bibliographic guides are divided into recommendatory, addressed to a wide range of readers and not claiming to be complete, and scientific, intended purely for specialists and aimed at providing an exhaustive list of data.”
Guide like a telescope
  • In astronomy, a guide is a telescope, which is an auxiliary optical tube that is mounted on the same installation and connected to another, larger telescope. It is designed for continuous tracking of an object and for precise guidance, called guiding. Example: “When carrying out manual guiding, the observer must keep the reference star of his choice at the crosshairs of the guide, while compensating for its departure by turning the telescope due to its main or auxiliary engines.”

The military and railway workers

In the process of our “investigation”, having studied as many dictionaries as possible, we also find the following meanings of the “guide”:

  • A guardsman (Guides means “scouts” in French. These are special cavalry units of the Belgian army in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Example: “Until 1915, guides had a special shape, and then they were only distinguished by raspberry-colored buttonholes ".
  • GUIDE - an abbreviation that designates the schedule of already completed train traffic. It is one of the main tools for dispatching regulation of railway traffic. Example: “It is the responsibility of train dispatchers to conduct a GUIDE either on a special form or in automatic mode using a special program.”

Origin and synonyms

Continuing the study of the fact that this is a guide, we consider the words that are close in meaning to this term and its origin. They can be divided into two groups:

  • If we turn to synonyms related to the "guide" as a word denoting a profession, then among them will be such as: a guide, a guide, an escort, Chicherone, a guide, a guide, a pilot.
  • Synonyms for the "guide" used in the meaning of the reference literature will be: guidebook, guide, guide, bedker, instruction, service, reference book.

According to etymologists, the object we are studying originates from the Gothic language, which belongs to the Germanic languages, and more precisely, to their eastern group. It is mainly known for its written monuments of 4-6 centuries. The most important of these is the translation of the Bible, which is attributed to Wulfil, the Visigothic bishop. It is assumed that he created the Gothic alphabet.

In the Gothic language there is the verb witan, meaning "observe, notice." In Italian, the verb guidare was formed from it - “news”, from which came the Italian noun guida in the meaning of “guide, guide”. It was borrowed from the French language, where it acquired the form of a guide in the same meaning. In Russian, the word "guide" came from French in the 19th century. According to the researchers, such nouns as “leader” and “counselor” are close to him.

At the end of the study of the fact that this is a guide, we will consider some signs of the profession indicated by this word.

Guide and guide - what is the difference?

Museum Guide

Often these two words are used as complete synonyms. But there are still differences between them. As a rule, a guide means one who is a specialist in museum excursions. But the guide - this is the person who works in a travel company according to the agreement concluded with her. He conducts not one, but several excursions - to monuments, museums, other attractions. He also accompanies a group of tourists, devoting considerable time to it, throughout the whole tour.


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