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Where does the word "counterfeit" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin contrafacere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "counterfeit" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin contrafacere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Counterfeit’s story begins in Medieval Latin: contrafacere meant “to imitate.” 'contra', against, plus 'facere', to make. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as contrefait. Past participle of 'contrefaire'. It reached English by 1300s as counterfeit. Counterfeit money was a capital crime in England. Today, counterfeit means an imitation made to deceive.
- Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval contrafacere "to imitate", 'contra', against, plus 'facere', to make.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval contrefait "imitated", past participle of 'contrefaire'.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s counterfeit "imitated", counterfeit money was a capital crime in England.