date

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

Date’s story begins in Latin: dare meant “to give.” Roman letters began 'data Romae', given at Rome, followed by the day. Within Latin, it grew into data by ancient. Given, from the formula data Romae (given at Rome) once used to head official documents. From there it passed into Old French as date by medieval. Carried into French for the time a document was given or issued. It reached English by 1300s as date. Settled as the English word for a specific point in time. Today, date means a specific day, month, and year, or a romantic outing.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient dare "to give", Roman letters began 'data Romae', given at Rome, followed by the day.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient data "given", given, from the formula data Romae (given at Rome) once used to head official documents.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval date "the time a document was issued", carried into French for the time a document was given or issued.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s date "a specific point in time", settled as the English word for a specific point in time.