Etymology Map
Back to all words

Copy

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a thing made to be like another

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
copia
Latin · ancient
"abundance"
the root of 'copious'; a 'copy' made more of something
2
Stage 2 of 3
copie
Old French · medieval
"transcript"
copying multiplied texts
3
Stage 3 of 3
copy
English · 1300s
"transcript"
'copy' for advertising text dates from the 1800s
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Copy’s story begins in Latin: copia meant “abundance.” The root of 'copious'; a 'copy' made more of something. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as copie. Copying multiplied texts. It reached English by 1300s as copy. 'copy' for advertising text dates from the 1800s. Today, copy means a thing made to be like another.