closure

Where does the word "closure" come from? It comes from Latin claudere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Closure’s story begins in Latin: claudere meant “to close, to shut.” The root of 'closet', 'close' and 'claustrophobia'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as clore. Carried into French for the act of shutting something. It reached English by 1300s as closure. Formed with the English suffix -ure for the act of closing something, or a sense of resolution. Today, closure means the act of closing something, or a feeling of emotional resolution.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient claudere "to close, to shut", the root of 'closet', 'close' and 'claustrophobia'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval clore "the act of shutting something", carried into French for the act of shutting something.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s closure "the act of closing something, or a sense of resolution", formed with the English suffix -ure for the act of closing something, or a sense of resolution.