finance

Where does the word "finance" come from? It comes from Latin finis, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

Finance’s story begins in Latin: finis meant “an end, a settlement.” An end, a boundary, related to the final settlement of a debt. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as finance. Carried into French for the payment or settlement of a debt. It reached English by 1400s as finance. Broadened to mean the management of money in general. Today, finance means the management of money, especially by governments or large organizations.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient finis "an end, a settlement", an end, a boundary, related to the final settlement of a debt.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval finance "the payment of a debt", carried into French for the payment or settlement of a debt.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s finance "the management of money and monetary systems", broadened to mean the management of money in general.