casual

Where does the word "casual" come from? It comes from Latin cadere, passing through Latin before entering English (1400s).

Casual’s story begins in Latin: cadere meant “to fall.” To fall, giving rise to casus (a fall, a chance event). Within Latin, it grew into casualis by ancient. Happening by chance, from casus. It reached English by 1400s as casual. Settled as the English word for something happening by chance, or relaxed in manner. Today, casual means relaxed and informal, or happening by chance rather than by plan.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient cadere "to fall", to fall, giving rise to casus (a fall, a chance event).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient casualis "happening by chance", happening by chance, from casus.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s casual "happening by chance, or relaxed and informal", settled as the English word for something happening by chance, or relaxed in manner.