EtymologyMap
Back to all words

Trace the journey of words

Today it means

integral

necessary to make a whole complete

Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate

Where does the word "integral" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin integralis, and was adopted directly into English (1550s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "integral" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin integralis, and was adopted directly into English (1550s).

Integral’s story begins in Medieval Latin: integralis meant “whole.” From 'integer', whole. It reached English by 1550s as integral. Calculus 'integrals' date from the 1690s. Today, integral means necessary to make a whole complete.

  1. Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval integralis "whole", from 'integer', whole.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1550s integral "essential", calculus 'integrals' date from the 1690s.

Browse by origin