format

Where does the word "format" come from? It comes from Latin forma, passing through Latin and German before entering English (1840).

Format’s story begins in Latin: forma meant “shape, mold, appearance.” The root of 'form', 'formula' and 'uniform'. Within Latin, it grew into formatus by ancient. Shaped, given a form, past participle of formare. From there it passed into German as format by 1800s. Adopted for the size and shape of a printed book. It reached English by 1840 as format. Settled as the English word for the way something is arranged or presented. Today, format means the way in which something is arranged, organized, or presented.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient forma "shape, mold, appearance", the root of 'form', 'formula' and 'uniform'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient formatus "shaped, given a form", shaped, given a form, past participle of formare.
3. Stage 3 · German · 1800s format "the size and shape of a printed book", adopted for the size and shape of a printed book.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1840 format "the way something is arranged, organized, or presented", settled as the English word for the way something is arranged or presented.