Etymology Map
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Dice

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means small cubes with dots used in games

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
datum
Latin · ancient
"something given, a lot"
possibly from 'dare', to give: what fate hands out
2
Stage 2 of 3
dé
Old French · medieval
"die"
plural 'dés' gave English 'dice'
3
Stage 3 of 3
dice
English · 1300s
"gaming cubes"
the singular 'die' survives in 'the die is cast'
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Read the full story

Dice’s story begins in Latin: datum meant “something given, a lot.” Possibly from 'dare', to give: what fate hands out. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as dé. Plural 'dés' gave English 'dice'. It reached English by 1300s as dice. The singular 'die' survives in 'the die is cast'. Today, dice means small cubes with dots used in games.