approach

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

Approach’s story begins in Late Latin: appropiare meant “to come near.” 'ad-' plus 'prope', near, the root of 'propinquity'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as aprochier. Used of troops advancing on a town. It reached English by 1300s as approach. 'approach' as a method dates from the 1900s. Today, approach means to come nearer; a way of dealing with something.

1. Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient appropiare "to come near", 'ad-' plus 'prope', near, the root of 'propinquity'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval aprochier "to draw near", used of troops advancing on a town.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s approach "to come near", 'approach' as a method dates from the 1900s.