divorce

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

Divorce’s story begins in Latin: divortium meant “separation.” From 'divertere', to turn aside, the root of 'divert'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as divorce. Under church law, marriages were rarely dissolved. It reached English by 1300s as divorce. Henry VIII's divorce split England from Rome. Today, divorce means the legal ending of a marriage.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient divortium "separation", from 'divertere', to turn aside, the root of 'divert'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval divorce "divorce", under church law, marriages were rarely dissolved.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s divorce "separation", Henry VIII's divorce split England from Rome.