remark meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

remark

noun

US /ɹɪˈmɑɹk/ · UK /ɹɪˈmɑːk/

Etymology From Middle French remarquer, from Old French remarquer, from re- (“again”) + marquer (“to mark”), equivalent to re- (“again”) + mark.

An act of pointing out or noticing; notice or observation.

It is worth remark that the Japanese railways are among the busiest in the world; moreover, their traffic is growing.1959 June, “Super-railway planned in Japan”, in Trains Illustrated, page 313:

An expression, in speech or writing, of something remarked or noticed; a mention of something

4 more examples

a biting remark
a funny remark
a spoken remark
One saint's day in mid-term a certain newly appointed suffragan-bishop came to the school chapel, and there preached on “The Inner Life.” He at once secured attention by his informal method, and when presently the coughing of Jarvis […] interrupted the sermon, he altogether captivated his audience with a remark about cough lozenges being cheap and easily procurable.1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter III, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:

A casual observation, comment, or statement

He remembers something Pete Huntley said at lunch, just a remark in passing, and the answer comes to him.2014, Stephen King, Mr. Mercedes: A Novel:

Arts, Crafts, Engraving, Hobbies, Lifestyle Alternative Alternative form of remarque.

Derived terms: counterremark, I resemble that remark, metaremark, remarkable

verb

Etymology From Middle French remarquer, from Old French remarquer, from re- (“again”) + marquer (“to mark”), equivalent to re- (“again”) + mark.

To pay heed to; notice; to take notice of, to perceive.

I remarked a certain twang in his southern pronunciation.
'Did you ever remark that door?' he asked; and when his companion had replied in the affirmative, 'It is connected in my mind,' added he, 'with a very odd story.'1886 January 5, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Story of the Door”, in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., →OCLC, page 5:

2 more examples

When travelling in Spain, Willkomm remarked qobar at a distance of 3 or 4 miles, yet, on reaching the actual spot, he saw nothing.1889 January 3, Antoine D'Abbadie, in a letter to the editor of Nature, volume 39, pages 247-248
“Let's just be grateful he's alive,” said Kate, and several heads turned sharply, remarking this unaccustomed display of feeling from a Fifth Floor lady.1986, John le Carré, A Perfect Spy:

Obsolete To pass comment on (something); to indicate, point out.

[S]he resolved to […] enter into conversation with her, by remarking the warmth of the room and the length of the dance.1790, Amelia Opie, chapter 19, in Dangers of Coquetry, volume II:

Obsolete To mark (someone or something) out; to distinguish, to make notable.

His manacles remark him; there he sits.1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […]”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC:

With clause as object To express in words or writing; to state, as an observation.

He remarked that it was getting late.
Thou art a man remark't to taſt a miſchiefe, / Looke for't; though it come late, it vvill come ſure.c. 1626 or 1629–1633 (first performance), [John Ford], ’Tis Pitty Shee’s a Whore […], London: […] Nicholas Okes for Richard Collins, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act II, signature [D4], verso:

1 more example

He looked at me with pity, which caused me to smile, remarking that I had noticed that here and elsewhere in the east, the heroes had monuments or statues erected to their memory[…]1904, Elma MacGibbon, Leaves of Knowledge:

With preposition on To make a remark or remarks on, to comment on (something).