course

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

Course’s story begins in Latin: currere meant “to run.” The root of 'current', 'courier' and 'cursor'. Within Latin, it grew into cursus by ancient. A running, a route, from currere. From there it passed into Old French as cours by medieval. Carried into French for a path or sequence of events. It reached English by 1200s as course. Settled as the English word for a path taken, or a series of lessons. Today, course means the path or direction something follows, or a series of lessons on a subject.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient currere "to run", the root of 'current', 'courier' and 'cursor'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient cursus "a running, a route", a running, a route, from currere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval cours "a path or sequence of events", carried into French for a path or sequence of events.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s course "a path taken, or a series of lessons on a subject", settled as the English word for a path taken, or a series of lessons.