shelve
UK: ʃelv | US: ʃelv
vt. to place or arrange items on a shelf
vt. to postpone or set aside a plan or discussion
vt. (archaic) to furnish with shelves
The word "shelve" originates from the noun "shelf," which traces back to Old English "scylfe" (a ledge or plank). The verb form emerged in the 16th century, initially meaning "to furnish with shelves." By the 17th century, it gained the figurative sense of "postponing" (as if placing an issue on a mental shelf). The morpheme "shelv" preserves the core meaning of storage, while the suffix "-e" marks it as a verb.
The librarian will shelve the returned books this afternoon.
The committee decided to shelve the proposal until next year.
They shelved their travel plans due to the pandemic.
The antique cabinet was shelved beautifully with rare books.
After much debate, the project was shelved indefinitely.