Etymology Map
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Divorce

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the legal ending of a marriage

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

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

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.