degree

Where does the word "degree" come from? It comes from Latin gradus, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Degree’s story begins in Latin: gradus meant “step.” The root of 'grade', 'gradual' and 'graduate'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as degré. 'de-' plus 'gré', step. It reached English by 1200s as degree. Academic degrees and angle degrees date from the 1300s. Today, degree means a unit of measure; an academic rank.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient gradus "step", the root of 'grade', 'gradual' and 'graduate'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval degré "step, rank", 'de-' plus 'gré', step.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s degree "step; rank", academic degrees and angle degrees date from the 1300s.