dialogue

Where does the word "dialogue" come from? It comes from Greek dialogos, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Dialogue’s story begins in Greek: dialogos meant “a conversation.” A conversation between two or more people, from dia (across) and legein (to speak). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as dialogue. Carried into French for written or spoken conversation. It reached English by 1300s as dialogue. Settled as the English word for conversation, especially in writing. Today, dialogue means a conversation between two or more people, especially in writing.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient dialogos "a conversation", a conversation between two or more people, from dia (across) and legein (to speak).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval dialogue "a conversation, especially written", carried into French for written or spoken conversation.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s dialogue "a conversation between two or more people", settled as the English word for conversation, especially in writing.