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Where does the word "decide" come from? It comes from Latin decidere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "decide" come from? It comes from Latin decidere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Decide’s story begins in Latin: decidere meant “to cut off.” 'de-', off, plus 'caedere', to cut: to cut off debate. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as decider. A legal term for settling a dispute. It reached English by 1300s as decide. 'decisive' followed. Today, decide means to make a choice.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient decidere "to cut off", 'de-', off, plus 'caedere', to cut: to cut off debate.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval decider "to decide", a legal term for settling a dispute.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s decide "to settle", 'decisive' followed.