fiancee

Where does the word "fiancee" come from? It comes from Latin fidare, passing through Old French and French before entering English (1800s).

Fiancee’s story begins in Latin: fidare meant “to trust.” By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as fiancer. Meaning "to promise" or "betroth". From there it passed into French as fiancée by 1800s. The feminine form for a woman engaged to be married. It reached English by 1800s as fiancee. From French 'fiancer', to promise, from Old French 'fiance', a pledge. Today, fiancee means a woman who is engaged to be married.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient fidare "to trust", meaning "to trust".
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval fiancer "to betroth", meaning "to promise" or "betroth".
3. Stage 3 · French · 1800s fiancée "a woman engaged to be married", the feminine form for a woman engaged to be married.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1800s fiancee "a woman engaged to be married", from French 'fiancer', to promise, from Old French 'fiance', a pledge.