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Where does the word "census" come from? It comes from Latin census, and was adopted directly into English (1790s).
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Where does the word "census" come from? It comes from Latin census, and was adopted directly into English (1790s).
Census’s story begins in Latin: census meant “registration of citizens.” From 'censere', to assess; Roman censors counted citizens and property every five years. It reached English by 1790s as census. The first US census and British census (1801) made it a regular event. Today, census means an official count of a population.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient census "registration of citizens", from 'censere', to assess; Roman censors counted citizens and property every five years.
- Stage 2 · English · 1790s census "an official count of population", the first US census and British census (1801) made it a regular event.