cure

Where does the word "cure" come from? It comes from Latin cura, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Cure’s story begins in Latin: cura meant “care, concern.” The root of 'curate', 'curious' and 'accurate'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as cure. A priest's 'cure of souls' was his spiritual care. It reached English by 1300s as cure. The sense 'successful remedy' grew later. Today, cure means a remedy that heals an illness.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient cura "care, concern", the root of 'curate', 'curious' and 'accurate'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval cure "care, treatment", a priest's 'cure of souls' was his spiritual care.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s cure "medical treatment", the sense 'successful remedy' grew later.