feature

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

Feature’s story begins in Latin: facere meant “to make, to do.” The root of 'fact', 'factory' and 'fashion'. Within Latin, it grew into factura by ancient. A making, a formation, from facere. From there it passed into Old French as feture by medieval. Carried into French for the shape or form of something, especially the face. It reached English by 1300s as feature. Settled as the English word for a distinctive part or characteristic. Today, feature means a distinctive part or characteristic of something, or a prominent article or film.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient facere "to make, to do", the root of 'fact', 'factory' and 'fashion'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient factura "a making, a formation", a making, a formation, from facere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval feture "the shape or form of something", carried into French for the shape or form of something, especially the face.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s feature "a distinctive part or characteristic of something", settled as the English word for a distinctive part or characteristic.