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Where does the word "guess" come from? It comes from Old Norse getza, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
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Where does the word "guess" come from? It comes from Old Norse getza, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
Guess’s story begins in Old Norse: getza meant “to get, to obtain.” Related to Danish 'gisse'. It reached English by 1300s as guess. Settled as the English word for forming an estimate without certain knowledge. Today, guess means to form an estimate or opinion without certain knowledge.
- Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval getza "to get, to obtain", related to Danish 'gisse'.
- Stage 2 · English · 1300s guess "to form an estimate without certain knowledge", settled as the English word for forming an estimate without certain knowledge.