guarantee

Where does the word "guarantee" come from? It comes from Frankish warjan, passing through Old French before entering English (1600s).

Guarantee’s story begins in Frankish: warjan meant “to protect, to guard.” To protect, to guard, a Germanic root of the Franks. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as garantie. Adapted from Frankish for a formal assurance or promise. It reached English by 1600s as guarantee. Settled as the English word for a formal promise that something will happen. Today, guarantee means a formal promise or assurance that something will happen or meet a certain standard.

1. Stage 1 · Frankish · medieval warjan "to protect, to guard", to protect, to guard, a Germanic root of the Franks.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval garantie "a formal assurance or promise", adapted from Frankish for a formal assurance or promise.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s guarantee "a formal promise that something will happen or be true", settled as the English word for a formal promise that something will happen.