digest

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

Digest’s story begins in Latin: digerere meant “to separate, arrange.” 'dis-', apart, plus 'gerere', to carry. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as digerer. Both arranging and breaking down food. It reached English by 1300s as digest. A 'digest' of news keeps the arranging sense. Today, digest means to break down food in the body; a summary.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient digerere "to separate, arrange", 'dis-', apart, plus 'gerere', to carry.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval digerer "to digest", both arranging and breaking down food.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s digest "to break down food", a 'digest' of news keeps the arranging sense.