Etymology Map
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Asset

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a useful or valuable thing

Where does the word "asset" come from? It comes from Latin ad satis, passing through Anglo-French before entering English (1530s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
ad satis
Latin · ancient
"to sufficiency"
Latin 'ad', to, plus 'satis', enough
2
Stage 2 of 3
asetz
Anglo-French · medieval
"enough"
'avoir asetz', to have enough to pay debts
3
Stage 3 of 3
asset
English · 1530s
"property for debts"
the singular 'asset' was back-formed in the 1800s
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Read the full story

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.