beauty

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

Beauty’s story begins in Latin: bellus meant “pretty, fine.” Originally a diminutive of 'bonus', good; used of pleasant, charming things. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as biauté. The Latin l became a vowel, as in 'beau'. It reached English by 1300s as beauty. Replaced Old English 'wlite' as the standard word. Today, beauty means a combination of qualities that pleases the senses.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient bellus "pretty, fine", originally a diminutive of 'bonus', good; used of pleasant, charming things.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval biauté "beauty", the Latin l became a vowel, as in 'beau'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s beauty "loveliness", replaced Old English 'wlite' as the standard word.