climate

Where does the word "climate" come from? It comes from Greek klima, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (medieval).

Climate’s story begins in Greek: klima meant “a region defined by the sun's angle.” Literally "a slope", referring to the angle of the sun at different latitudes. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as clima. Adopted for a region's characteristic weather. From there it passed into Old French as climat by medieval. Carried the geographic concept into French. It reached English by medieval as climate. Settled as the English word for weather patterns. Today, climate means the weather conditions typical of a region over a long period.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient klima "a region defined by the sun's angle", literally "a slope", referring to the angle of the sun at different latitudes.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient clima "a region, weather zone", adopted for a region's characteristic weather.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval climat "a region's typical weather", carried the geographic concept into French.
4. Stage 4 · English · medieval climate "the weather conditions typical of a region", settled as the English word for weather patterns.