doctor

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

Doctor’s story begins in Latin: docere meant “to teach.” The root of 'docile', 'doctrine' and 'document'. Within Latin, it grew into doctor by ancient. A teacher, one who teaches, from docere. From there it passed into Old French as doctour by medieval. Carried into French for a highly learned person, especially in medicine. It reached English by 1300s as doctor. Settled as the English word for a person qualified to practice medicine. Today, doctor means a person qualified to practice medicine, or one holding the highest academic degree.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient docere "to teach", the root of 'docile', 'doctrine' and 'document'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient doctor "a teacher", a teacher, one who teaches, from docere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval doctour "a highly learned person", carried into French for a highly learned person, especially in medicine.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s doctor "a person qualified to practice medicine", settled as the English word for a person qualified to practice medicine.