crime

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

Crime’s story begins in Latin: cernere meant “to sift, to judge.” The root of 'discern' and 'certain'. Within Latin, it grew into crimen by ancient. A judgment, an accusation, from cernere. From there it passed into Old French as crime by medieval. Carried into French for an act punishable by law. It reached English by 1200s as crime. Settled as the English word for an action that breaks the law. Today, crime means an act punishable by law, or such acts collectively.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient cernere "to sift, to judge", the root of 'discern' and 'certain'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient crimen "a judgment, an accusation", a judgment, an accusation, from cernere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval crime "an act punishable by law", carried into French for an act punishable by law.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s crime "an action that breaks the law", settled as the English word for an action that breaks the law.