estate

Where does the word "estate" come from? It comes from Latin stare, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1200s).

Estate’s story begins in Latin: stare meant “to stand.” The root of 'state', 'status' and 'statue'. Within Latin, it grew into status by ancient. A standing, a condition, from stare. From there it passed into Old French as estat by medieval. Carried into French for one's condition or property. It reached English by 1200s as estate. Settled as the English word for a large area of property, or one's assets. Today, estate means a large area of property, or all of a person's assets and possessions.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient stare "to stand", the root of 'state', 'status' and 'statue'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient status "a standing, a condition", a standing, a condition, from stare.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval estat "one's condition or property", carried into French for one's condition or property.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s estate "a large area of property, or one's assets", settled as the English word for a large area of property, or one's assets.