Etymology Map
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Cost

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means an amount paid for something

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
constare
Latin · ancient
"to stand firm, to cost"
'com-' plus 'stare', to stand: the price stands at
2
Stage 2 of 3
coster
Old French · medieval
"to cost"
what something stands at in price
3
Stage 3 of 3
cost
English · 1200s
"to cost"
'at all costs' dates from the 1700s
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Read the full story

Cost’s story begins in Latin: constare meant “to stand firm, to cost.” 'com-' plus 'stare', to stand: the price stands at. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as coster. What something stands at in price. It reached English by 1200s as cost. 'at all costs' dates from the 1700s. Today, cost means an amount paid for something.