fundamental

Where does the word "fundamental" come from? It comes from Latin fundus, passing through Latin before entering English (1400s).

Fundamental’s story begins in Latin: fundus meant “bottom, base.” The root of 'fund', 'found' and 'profound'. Within Latin, it grew into fundamentum by ancient. A foundation, from fundare (to found, from fundus). It reached English by 1400s as fundamental. Settled as the English word for something forming a necessary base or core. Today, fundamental means forming a necessary base or core part of something, essential.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient fundus "bottom, base", the root of 'fund', 'found' and 'profound'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient fundamentum "a foundation", a foundation, from fundare (to found, from fundus).
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s fundamental "forming a necessary base or core, essential", settled as the English word for something forming a necessary base or core.