disarm

Where does the word "disarm" come from? It comes from Latin arma, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

Disarm’s story begins in Latin: arma meant “weapons, arms.” Weapons, arms, combined with dis- (apart, away). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as desarmer. Carried into French for taking away someone's weapons. It reached English by 1400s as disarm. Settled as the English word for removing weapons from someone, or easing hostility. Today, disarm means to remove weapons from someone, or to ease hostility or suspicion.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient arma "weapons, arms", weapons, arms, combined with dis- (apart, away).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval desarmer "to take away someone's weapons", carried into French for taking away someone's weapons.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s disarm "to remove weapons from someone, or to ease hostility", settled as the English word for removing weapons from someone, or easing hostility.