contract

Where does the word "contract" come from? It comes from Latin contrahere, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Contract’s story begins in Latin: contrahere meant “to draw together.” To draw together, from com- (together) and trahere (to draw). It reached English by 1300s as contract. Settled as the English word for a binding agreement, or to shrink together. Today, contract means a legally binding agreement, or to become smaller by drawing together.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient contrahere "to draw together", to draw together, from com- (together) and trahere (to draw).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s contract "a binding legal agreement, or to shrink together", settled as the English word for a binding agreement, or to shrink together.