Etymology Map
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Advice

3 stages from Vulgar Latin to English.

Today it means guidance offered about what to do

Where does the word "advice" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin ad visum, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
ad visum
Vulgar Latin · ancient
"according to one's view"
'ad', to, plus 'visum', seen, from 'videre', to see
2
Stage 2 of 3
avis
Old French · medieval
"opinion"
modern French still uses 'avis' for opinion
3
Stage 3 of 3
advice
English · 1300s
"opinion; counsel"
first recorded around 1300 in a Middle English life of St Thomas Becket; the 'd' was added in the 1400s to look more Latin
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Read the full story

Advice’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: ad visum meant “according to one's view.” 'ad', to, plus 'visum', seen, from 'videre', to see. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as avis. Modern French still uses 'avis' for opinion. It reached English by 1300s as advice. First recorded around 1300 in a Middle English life of St Thomas Becket; the 'd' was added in the 1400s to look more Latin. Today, advice means guidance offered about what to do.