combine

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

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.

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