Etymology Map
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Clause

3 stages from Medieval Latin to English.

Today it means a group of words with a verb; a section of a document

Where does the word "clause" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin clausa, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
clausa
Medieval Latin · medieval
"closing"
from 'claudere', to close, the root of 'close'
2
Stage 2 of 3
clause
Old French · medieval
"clause"
the end of a sentence
3
Stage 3 of 3
clause
English · 1200s
"sentence; article"
contract 'clauses' followed
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Read the full story

Clause’s story begins in Medieval Latin: clausa meant “closing.” From 'claudere', to close, the root of 'close'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as clause. The end of a sentence. It reached English by 1200s as clause. Contract 'clauses' followed. Today, clause means a group of words with a verb; a section of a document.