discourse

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

Discourse’s story begins in Latin: discurrere meant “to run about.” To run about, from dis- (apart) and currere (to run). Within Latin, it grew into discursus by ancient. A running about, a conversation, from discurrere. From there it passed into Old French as discours by medieval. Carried into French for spoken or written communication. It reached English by 1400s as discourse. Settled as the English word for written or spoken communication on a subject. Today, discourse means written or spoken communication or debate on a particular subject.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient discurrere "to run about", to run about, from dis- (apart) and currere (to run).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient discursus "a running about, a conversation", a running about, a conversation, from discurrere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval discours "spoken or written communication", carried into French for spoken or written communication.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1400s discourse "written or spoken communication on a subject", settled as the English word for written or spoken communication on a subject.