geography

Where does the word "geography" come from? It comes from Greek ge, passing through French before entering English (1500s).

Geography’s story begins in Greek: ge meant “earth.” Earth, combined with graphein (to write) for describing the earth. By medieval, the word had taken hold in French as geographie. Carried into French for the study of the earth's features. It reached English by 1500s as geography. Settled as the English name for the science. Today, geography means the study of the earth's physical features and human activity.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient ge "earth", earth, combined with graphein (to write) for describing the earth.
2. Stage 2 · French · medieval geographie "the study of the earth's features", carried into French for the study of the earth's features.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s geography "the study of the earth's physical features", settled as the English name for the science.