Etymology Map
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Design

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a plan or drawing; to plan

Where does the word "design" come from? It comes from Latin designare, passing through Italian before entering English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
designare
Latin · ancient
"to mark out"
'de-' plus 'signare', to mark
2
Stage 2 of 3
disegno
Italian · 1500s
"drawing, plan"
Renaissance artists' word for drawing as the basis of art
3
Stage 3 of 3
design
English · 1500s
"to plan"
'designer' labels date from the 1960s
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Read the full story

Design’s story begins in Latin: designare meant “to mark out.” 'de-' plus 'signare', to mark. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Italian as disegno. Renaissance artists' word for drawing as the basis of art. It reached English by 1500s as design. 'designer' labels date from the 1960s. Today, design means a plan or drawing; to plan.