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Where does the word "distance" come from? It comes from Latin distantia, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "distance" come from? It comes from Latin distantia, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Distance’s story begins in Latin: distantia meant “standing apart.” 'dis-' plus 'stare', to stand. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as distance. Also meant quarrel. It reached English by 1300s as distance. 'keep your distance' dates from the 1500s. Today, distance means the space between two points.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient distantia "standing apart", 'dis-' plus 'stare', to stand.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval distance "distance, discord", also meant quarrel.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s distance "discord; space between", 'keep your distance' dates from the 1500s.