1
Stage 1 of 3
bi
Latin · ancient
"two"
two, combined with million to mean a million to the second power
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Stage 2 of 3
billion
French · 1400s
"a very large number"
coined in French mathematical vocabulary for the very large number
3
Stage 3 of 3
billion
English · 1680s
"one thousand million, 1,000,000,000"
adopted directly, later settling as one thousand million in common usage
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