accord

Where does the word "accord" come from? It comes from Latin cor, passing through Late Latin and Old French before entering English (1200s).

Accord’s story begins in Latin: cor meant “heart.” Heart, combined with ad- (to). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as accordare. To bring hearts together, to agree, from ad- and cor. From there it passed into Old French as acorder by medieval. Carried into French for reaching agreement between parties. It reached English by 1200s as accord. Settled as the English word for a formal agreement, or harmony between parties. Today, accord means a formal agreement, or a state of harmony and consent between parties.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient cor "heart", heart, combined with ad- (to).
2. Stage 2 · Late Latin · medieval accordare "to bring hearts together, to agree", to bring hearts together, to agree, from ad- and cor.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval acorder "to reach agreement between parties", carried into French for reaching agreement between parties.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s accord "a formal agreement, or harmony between parties", settled as the English word for a formal agreement, or harmony between parties.