doctrine

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

Doctrine’s story begins in Latin: docere meant “to teach.” The root of 'docile', 'doctor' and 'document'. Within Latin, it grew into doctrina by ancient. Teaching, instruction, from docere. From there it passed into Old French as doctrine by medieval. Carried into French for a set of taught beliefs. It reached English by 1300s as doctrine. Settled as the English word for a set of official beliefs or teachings. Today, doctrine means a set of beliefs or principles taught and held by a religious, political, or philosophical group.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient docere "to teach", the root of 'docile', 'doctor' and 'document'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient doctrina "teaching, instruction", teaching, instruction, from docere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval doctrine "a set of taught beliefs", carried into French for a set of taught beliefs.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s doctrine "a set of official beliefs or teachings", settled as the English word for a set of official beliefs or teachings.