endure

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

Endure’s story begins in Latin: durus meant “hard.” Hard, giving rise to durare (to last, to harden). Within Latin, it grew into indurare by ancient. To harden, to make lasting, from in- and durus. From there it passed into Old French as endurer by medieval. Carried into French for withstanding hardship over time. It reached English by 1300s as endure. Settled as the English word for withstanding hardship or lasting over time. Today, endure means to withstand hardship or pain, or to continue to exist over time.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient durus "hard", hard, giving rise to durare (to last, to harden).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient indurare "to harden, to make lasting", to harden, to make lasting, from in- and durus.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval endurer "to withstand hardship over time", carried into French for withstanding hardship over time.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s endure "to withstand hardship, or to last over time", settled as the English word for withstanding hardship or lasting over time.