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Today it means

damage

physical harm impairing value or function

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

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

Damage’s story begins in Latin: damnum meant “loss, hurt.” The root of 'damn' and 'condemn'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as damage. The suffix -age made a noun of it. It reached English by 1300s as damage. 'damages' as legal compensation dates from the 1400s. Today, damage means physical harm impairing value or function.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient damnum "loss, hurt", the root of 'damn' and 'condemn'.
  2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval damage "harm, loss", the suffix -age made a noun of it.
  3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s damage "harm", 'damages' as legal compensation dates from the 1400s.

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