calendar

Where does the word "calendar" come from? It comes from Latin kalendae, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Calendar’s story begins in Latin: kalendae meant “first day of the month.” When interest on debts was due. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as kalendier. A register of dates. It reached English by 1200s as calendar. The Gregorian calendar was adopted in Britain in 1752. Today, calendar means a chart of days, weeks and months.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient kalendae "first day of the month", when interest on debts was due.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval kalendier "account book", a register of dates.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s calendar "register of days", the Gregorian calendar was adopted in Britain in 1752.