demand

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

Demand’s story begins in Latin: manus meant “hand.” Hand, combined with dare (to give) to form mandare (to entrust formally). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as demandare. To hand over formally, to entrust, from de- and mandare. From there it passed into Old French as demander by medieval. Carried into French for asking for something firmly. It reached English by 1300s as demand. Settled as the English word for asking for something firmly and urgently. Today, demand means to ask for something firmly, or a strong need or requirement for something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient manus "hand", hand, combined with dare (to give) to form mandare (to entrust formally).
2. Stage 2 · Late Latin · medieval demandare "to hand over formally", to hand over formally, to entrust, from de- and mandare.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval demander "to ask for something firmly", carried into French for asking for something firmly.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s demand "to ask for something firmly and urgently", settled as the English word for asking for something firmly and urgently.