authentic

Where does the word "authentic" come from? It comes from Greek authentikos, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Authentic’s story begins in Greek: authentikos meant “original, genuine.” Greek, from 'authentēs', one who acts on his own authority. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as autentique. Came via Late Latin 'authenticus'. It reached English by 1300s as authentic. The sense 'genuine' dates from the 1600s. Today, authentic means genuine.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient authentikos "original, genuine", Greek, from 'authentēs', one who acts on his own authority.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval autentique "authoritative", came via Late Latin 'authenticus'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s authentic "authoritative", the sense 'genuine' dates from the 1600s.