fiance

Where does the word "fiance" come from? It comes from Latin fidus / fidere, passing through Old French and French before entering English (1864).

Fiance’s story begins in Latin: fidus / fidere meant “faithful; to trust.” The root adjective and verb of trust. By 1200s, the word had taken hold in Old French as fiance. From fier 'to trust', naming a solemn promise. From there it passed into French as fiance by 1830s. The past participle of fiancer 'to betroth' was used as a noun for the betrothed person. It reached English by 1864 as fiance. Borrowed for a man engaged to be married, alongside the earlier-borrowed feminine fiancee. Today, fiance means a person to whom one is engaged to be married.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient fidus / fidere "faithful; to trust", the root adjective and verb of trust.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · 1200s fiance "a promise, a pledge of trust", from fier 'to trust', naming a solemn promise.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1830s fiance "a person to whom one is betrothed", the past participle of fiancer 'to betroth' was used as a noun for the betrothed person.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1864 fiance "a man to whom one is engaged", borrowed for a man engaged to be married, alongside the earlier-borrowed feminine fiancee.