Etymology Map
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Image

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a picture or representation of something

Where does the word "image" come from? It comes from Latin imago, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
imago
Latin · ancient
"likeness, copy"
related to 'imitari', to imitate
2
Stage 2 of 3
image
Old French · medieval
"likeness"
used of statues of saints
3
Stage 3 of 3
image
English · 1200s
"a likeness; statue"
'public image' dates from the 1950s
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Read the full story

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.