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Stage 1 of 4
castellum
Latin · ancient
"a small fort, castle"
a diminutive of castrum, 'fort'
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chastel
Old French · 1100s
"castle"
kept the sense of a fortified stronghold
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chateau
French · medieval
"a castle; a grand country house"
as fortification gave way to aristocratic living, the word shifted toward a grand residence
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chateau
English · 1739
"a large French country house"
borrowed for a large, stately country residence
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