Etymology Map
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Disease

3 stages from Late Latin to English.

Today it means an illness affecting the body or mind

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
adjacens
Late Latin · ancient
"lying nearby"
the probable source of French 'aise', ease: having elbow room
2
Stage 2 of 3
desaise
Old French · medieval
"discomfort"
'des-', lacking, plus 'aise', ease: discomfort or inconvenience
3
Stage 3 of 3
disease
English · 1300s
"discomfort"
narrowed to illness by the 1400s
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Read the full story

Disease’s story begins in Late Latin: adjacens meant “lying nearby.” The probable source of French 'aise', ease: having elbow room. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as desaise. 'des-', lacking, plus 'aise', ease: discomfort or inconvenience. It reached English by 1300s as disease. Narrowed to illness by the 1400s. Today, disease means an illness affecting the body or mind.