correspond

Where does the word "correspond" come from? It comes from Latin spondere, passing through Medieval Latin before entering English (1500s).

Correspond’s story begins in Latin: spondere meant “to promise.” To promise, giving rise to respondere (to answer), combined with com- (together). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Medieval Latin as correspondere. To answer together, to match, from com- and respondere. It reached English by 1500s as correspond. Settled as the English word for matching something closely, or exchanging letters. Today, correspond means to match or be similar to something, or to communicate by exchanging letters.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient spondere "to promise", to promise, giving rise to respondere (to answer), combined with com- (together).
2. Stage 2 · Medieval Latin · medieval correspondere "to answer together, to match", to answer together, to match, from com- and respondere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s correspond "to match something closely, or to exchange letters", settled as the English word for matching something closely, or exchanging letters.