commerce

Where does the word "commerce" come from? It comes from Latin commercium, and was adopted directly into English (1530s).

Commerce’s story begins in Latin: commercium meant “trade.” Trade, from com- (together) and merx (merchandise). It reached English by 1530s as commerce. Settled as the English word for the buying and selling of goods. Today, commerce means the activity of buying and selling goods and services.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient commercium "trade", trade, from com- (together) and merx (merchandise).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1530s commerce "the activity of buying and selling goods", settled as the English word for the buying and selling of goods.