corporate

Where does the word "corporate" come from? It comes from Latin corpus, passing through Latin before entering English (1400s).

Corporate’s story begins in Latin: corpus meant “body.” The root of 'corpse', 'corporal' and 'corps'. Within Latin, it grew into corporare by ancient. The root of 'corporation' and 'corpse'. By ancient, Latin speakers had reshaped it into corporatus. Formed into a body, united, from corporare. It reached English by 1400s as corporate. Settled as the English word for something relating to a large company treated as a single body. Today, corporate means relating to a large company or corporation treated as a single legal entity.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient corpus "body", the root of 'corpse', 'corporal' and 'corps'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient corporare "to form into a body", the root of 'corporation' and 'corpse'.
3. Stage 3 · Latin · ancient corporatus "formed into a body, united", formed into a body, united, from corporare.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1400s corporate "relating to a large company treated as a single legal body", settled as the English word for something relating to a large company treated as a single body.