avenue

Where does the word "avenue" come from? It comes from Latin advenire, passing through French before entering English (1600s).

Avenue’s story begins in Latin: advenire meant “to come to, to arrive.” To come to, to arrive, from ad- (to) and venire (to come). By 1600s, the word had taken hold in French as avenue. Settled in French for a tree-lined approach to a building. It reached English by 1600s as avenue. First a tree-lined approach to a country house; New York's numbered avenues were laid out in 1811. Today, avenue means a broad street, especially one lined with trees, or a means of approach.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient advenire "to come to, to arrive", to come to, to arrive, from ad- (to) and venire (to come).
2. Stage 2 · French · 1600s avenue "a tree-lined approach to a building", settled in French for a tree-lined approach to a building.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s avenue "a broad street, often tree-lined", first a tree-lined approach to a country house; New York's numbered avenues were laid out in 1811.