conquest

Where does the word "conquest" come from? It comes from Latin quaerere, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1200s).

Conquest’s story begins in Latin: quaerere meant “to seek.” To seek, combined with com- (thoroughly). Within Latin, it grew into conquirere by ancient. To search for thoroughly, to win, from com- and quaerere. From there it passed into Old French as conqueste by medieval. Carried into French for the act of winning territory through force. It reached English by 1200s as conquest. Settled as the English word for the act of taking control of a place by force. Today, conquest means the act of taking control of a place or people by military force.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient quaerere "to seek", to seek, combined with com- (thoroughly).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient conquirere "to search for thoroughly, to win", to search for thoroughly, to win, from com- and quaerere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval conqueste "the act of winning territory through force", carried into French for the act of winning territory through force.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s conquest "the act of taking control of a place or people by force", settled as the English word for the act of taking control of a place by force.