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Today it means

conflict

a serious disagreement

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Where does the word "conflict" come from? It comes from Latin conflictus, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

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Where does the word "conflict" come from? It comes from Latin conflictus, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Conflict’s story begins in Latin: conflictus meant “a striking together.” From 'confligere', to strike together. It reached English by 1400s as conflict. 'conflict of interest' dates from the 1700s. Today, conflict means a serious disagreement.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient conflictus "a striking together", from 'confligere', to strike together.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s conflict "fight", 'conflict of interest' dates from the 1700s.

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