command

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

Command’s story begins in Latin: manus meant “hand.” Hand, combined with dare (to give) to form mandare (to entrust, order). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as commandare. To entrust, to order, from com- (thoroughly) and mandare (to order). From there it passed into Old French as comander by medieval. Carried into French for giving an authoritative order. It reached English by 1300s as command. Settled as the English word for giving an authoritative order. Today, command means to give an authoritative order, or authority and control over something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient manus "hand", hand, combined with dare (to give) to form mandare (to entrust, order).
2. Stage 2 · Late Latin · medieval commandare "to entrust, to order", to entrust, to order, from com- (thoroughly) and mandare (to order).
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval comander "to give an authoritative order", carried into French for giving an authoritative order.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s command "to give an authoritative order", settled as the English word for giving an authoritative order.