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Where does the word "faith" come from? It comes from Latin fides, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "faith" come from? It comes from Latin fides, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Faith’s story begins in Latin: fides meant “trust, belief.” The root of 'fidelity' and 'confide'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as feid. Anglo-Norman kept a final 'th'-like sound that Parisian French dropped (modern 'foi'), giving English its ending. It reached English by 1200s as faith. Replaced Old English 'geleafa'. Today, faith means complete trust; strong religious belief.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient fides "trust, belief", the root of 'fidelity' and 'confide'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval feid "faith, loyalty", Anglo-Norman kept a final 'th'-like sound that Parisian French dropped (modern 'foi'), giving English its ending.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s faith "belief, loyalty", replaced Old English 'geleafa'.