author

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

Author’s story begins in Latin: auctor meant “originator, promoter.” From 'augere', to increase, the root of 'augment'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as autor. Used of God as creator and of writers. It reached English by 1300s as author. The 'h' was added in the 1500s, as if from Greek. Today, author means a writer of a book.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient auctor "originator, promoter", from 'augere', to increase, the root of 'augment'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval autor "creator", used of God as creator and of writers.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s author "creator", the 'h' was added in the 1500s, as if from Greek.