Etymology Map
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Alien

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a foreigner; a being from another world

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
alienus
Latin · ancient
"belonging to another"
from 'alius', other
2
Stage 2 of 3
alien
Old French · medieval
"foreign"
a foreigner
3
Stage 3 of 3
alien
English · 1300s
"foreign"
the sense 'extraterrestrial' dates from the 1950s
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Read the full story

Alien’s story begins in Latin: alienus meant “belonging to another.” From 'alius', other. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as alien. A foreigner. It reached English by 1300s as alien. The sense 'extraterrestrial' dates from the 1950s. Today, alien means a foreigner; a being from another world.