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Where does the word "fraud" come from? It comes from Latin fraus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "fraud" come from? It comes from Latin fraus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Fraud’s story begins in Latin: fraus meant “deceit.” Related to 'frustra', in vain, the root of 'frustrate'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as fraude. A legal term for deception. It reached English by 1300s as fraud. 'fraudster' dates from the 1970s. Today, fraud means wrongful deception for gain.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient fraus "deceit", related to 'frustra', in vain, the root of 'frustrate'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval fraude "fraud", a legal term for deception.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s fraud "deceit", 'fraudster' dates from the 1970s.