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