geometry

Where does the word "geometry" come from? It comes from Greek geometria, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Geometry’s story begins in Greek: geometria meant “earth measurement.” Literally earth measurement, from ge (earth) and metron (measure). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as geometrie. Carried into French mathematical vocabulary. It reached English by 1300s as geometry. Settled as the English name for the branch of mathematics. Today, geometry means the branch of mathematics concerned with shapes, sizes, and space.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient geometria "earth measurement", literally earth measurement, from ge (earth) and metron (measure).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval geometrie "the mathematics of shapes and space", carried into French mathematical vocabulary.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s geometry "the branch of mathematics dealing with shapes and space", settled as the English name for the branch of mathematics.