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Where does the word "circuit" come from? It comes from Latin circuitus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "circuit" come from? It comes from Latin circuitus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Circuit’s story begins in Latin: circuitus meant “a going around.” 'circum', around, plus 'ire', to go. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as circuit. Judges travelled on circuit to hold courts. It reached English by 1300s as circuit. Electric 'circuits' date from the 1700s. Today, circuit means a roughly circular route; a path for electric current.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient circuitus "a going around", 'circum', around, plus 'ire', to go.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval circuit "circuit", judges travelled on circuit to hold courts.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s circuit "circular route", electric 'circuits' date from the 1700s.