Etymology Map
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Combine

3 stages from Late Latin to English.

Today it means to join together

Where does the word "combine" come from? It comes from Late Latin combinare, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
combinare
Late Latin · ancient
"to unite two by two"
'com-' plus 'bini', two by two
2
Stage 2 of 3
combiner
Old French · medieval
"to combine"
Late Latin 'combinare' meant to yoke together two by two, from 'bini', a pair
3
Stage 3 of 3
combine
English · 1400s
"to join"
farm 'combine harvesters' date from the 1800s
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Read the full story

Combine’s story begins in Late Latin: combinare meant “to unite two by two.” 'com-' plus 'bini', two by two. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as combiner. Late Latin 'combinare' meant to yoke together two by two, from 'bini', a pair. It reached English by 1400s as combine. Farm 'combine harvesters' date from the 1800s. Today, combine means to join together.