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Where does the word "criminal" come from? It comes from Latin crimen, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).
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Where does the word "criminal" come from? It comes from Latin crimen, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).
Criminal’s story begins in Latin: crimen meant “charge, crime.” Possibly from 'cernere', to decide. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as criminel. Old French 'criminel' (1000s) also meant despicable or wicked; Latin 'crimen' first meant an accusation or charge. It reached English by 1400s as criminal. 'criminal' as a noun dates from the 1600s. Today, criminal means a person who has committed a crime.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient crimen "charge, crime", possibly from 'cernere', to decide.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval criminel "criminal", Old French 'criminel' (1000s) also meant despicable or wicked; Latin 'crimen' first meant an accusation or charge.
- Stage 3 · English · 1400s criminal "relating to crime", 'criminal' as a noun dates from the 1600s.