Sense of Place: The word

PLACE:
Origin:
ME, conflation of OE plæce and MF place, both < L var. of courtyard, area < Gk plateîa broad use of fem. platýs broad, flat1 ; (v.) late ME, deriv. of the platy-
O.E. "open space in a city, market place, square," from O.Fr. place, from M.L. placea "place, spot," from L. platea "courtyard, open space, broad street," from Gk. plateia (hodos) "broad (way)," fem. of platys "broad," from PIE *plat- "to spread" (cf. Skt. prathati "spreads out;" Hitt. palhi "broad;" Lith. platus "broad;" Ger. Fladen "flat cake;" O.Ir. lethan "broad"); extended variant form of base *pele- (see plane (1)). Replaced O.E. stow and stede. Wide application in English, covering meanings that in French require three words: place, lieu, and endroit. Cognate It. piazza and Sp. plaza retain more of the etymological sense. Broad sense of "material space, dimension of defined or indefinite extent" is from mid-13c. Sense of "position on some social scale" is from early 14c. Meaning "group of houses in a town" is from 1580s. Place-kick is from 1845, originally in rugby. All over the place "in disorder" is attested from 1923.
1. a particular portion of space, whether of definite or indefinite extent.
2. space in general: time and place.
3. the specific portion of space normally occupied by anything: The vase is in its place. Every item on the shelf had its place.
4. a space, area, or spot, set apart or used for a particular purpose: a place of worship; a place of entertainment.
5. any part or spot in a body or surface: a decayed place in a tree.
6. a particular passage in a book or writing: to find the place where one left off reading.
7. a space or seat for a person, as in a theater, train, etc.: Please save my place for me.
8. position, situation, or circumstances: I would complain if I were in your place.
9. a proper or appropriate location or position: A restaurant is not the place for an argument.
10. a job, post, or office: persons in high places.
11. a function or duty: It is not your place to offer criticism.
12. proper sequence or relationship, as of ideas, details, etc.: My thoughts began to fall into place.
13. high position or rank: aristocrats of power and place.
14. a region or area: to travel to distant places.
15. an open space, or square, as in a city or town.
16. a short street, a court, etc.
17. a portion of space used for habitation, as a city, town, or village: Trains rarely stop in that place anymore.
18. a building, location, etc., set aside for a specific purpose: He will soon need a larger place for his expanding business.
19. a part of a building: The kitchen is the sunniest place in the house.
20. a residence, dwelling, or house: Please come and have dinner at my place.
21. lieu; substitution (usually fol. by of ): Use yogurt in place of sour cream.
22. a step or point in order of proceeding: in the first place.
23. a fitting or promising opportunity: There's a place in this town for a man of his talents.
24. a reasonable ground or occasion: This is no place for such an outburst.
26.Drama . one of the three unities. Compare unity ( def. 8 ) .
27. Sports .a. a position among the leading competitors, usually the first, second, or third at the finish line.
b. the position of the competitor who comes in second in a horse race, harness race, etc. Compare show ( def. 27 ) , win ( def. 17 ) .
28. places, Theater . a call summoning performers for the beginning of a performance or an act.
29.room or space for entry or passage: to make place for the gentry.


Place:
Looking over all the various definitions of the word "place" and being in the position I am in today with some family stuff directed my thought patterns to an understanding of the word in relation to status. Place has to do with competition, prestige, having a position, a location to feel comfortable in, also physically but mostly metaphorically. Occupying spacewith the knowledge that you fit somewhere. Someone has made a space for you. There is room in life for you. Also it has to do with where you come from. My sense of place can be disrupted, it is not secure. I am conscious of the fragility and instability that comes along with where I stand in the world.