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Where does the word "asset" come from? It comes from Latin ad satis, passing through Anglo-French before entering English (1530s).
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Where does the word "asset" come from? It comes from Latin ad satis, passing through Anglo-French before entering English (1530s).
Asset’s story begins in Latin: ad satis meant “to sufficiency.” Latin 'ad', to, plus 'satis', enough. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Anglo-French as asetz. 'avoir asetz', to have enough to pay debts. It reached English by 1530s as asset. The singular 'asset' was back-formed in the 1800s. Today, asset means a useful or valuable thing.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient ad satis "to sufficiency", Latin 'ad', to, plus 'satis', enough.
- Stage 2 · Anglo-French · medieval asetz "enough", 'avoir asetz', to have enough to pay debts.
- Stage 3 · English · 1530s asset "property for debts", the singular 'asset' was back-formed in the 1800s.