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Where does the word "image" come from? It comes from Latin imago, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "image" come from? It comes from Latin imago, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Image’s story begins in Latin: imago meant “likeness, copy.” Related to 'imitari', to imitate. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as image. Used of statues of saints. It reached English by 1200s as image. 'public image' dates from the 1950s. Today, image means a picture or representation of something.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient imago "likeness, copy", related to 'imitari', to imitate.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval image "likeness", used of statues of saints.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s image "a likeness; statue", 'public image' dates from the 1950s.