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Where does the word "beast" come from? It comes from Latin bestia, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "beast" come from? It comes from Latin bestia, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Beast’s story begins in Latin: bestia meant “wild animal.” The root of 'bestial' and 'beastly'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as beste. Replaced Old English 'deor', which narrowed to 'deer'. It reached English by 1200s as beast. 'beast' for a brutish person dates from the 1300s. Today, beast means an animal, especially a large or wild one.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient bestia "wild animal", the root of 'bestial' and 'beastly'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval beste "animal", replaced Old English 'deor', which narrowed to 'deer'.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s beast "animal", 'beast' for a brutish person dates from the 1300s.