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Where does the word "category" come from? It comes from Greek katēgoria, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1580s).
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Where does the word "category" come from? It comes from Greek katēgoria, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1580s).
Category’s story begins in Greek: katēgoria meant “accusation; predicate.” An accusation in law; Aristotle used it for the classes of things one can say about something. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as categoria. Boethius translated Aristotle's Categories. It reached English by 1580s as category. Moved from philosophy to general use. Today, category means a class of things sharing characteristics.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient katēgoria "accusation; predicate", an accusation in law; Aristotle used it for the classes of things one can say about something.
- Stage 2 · Late Latin · ancient categoria "category", Boethius translated Aristotle's Categories.
- Stage 3 · English · 1580s category "a class or division", moved from philosophy to general use.