join

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

Join’s story begins in Latin: iungere meant “to join, to yoke together.” The root of 'junction', 'conjugal' and 'yoke'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as joindre. Carried into French for connecting two things together. It reached English by 1200s as join. Settled as the English word for connecting or linking things together. Today, join means to connect or link two or more things together, or to become a member of a group.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient iungere "to join, to yoke together", the root of 'junction', 'conjugal' and 'yoke'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval joindre "to connect two things together", carried into French for connecting two things together.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s join "to connect or link things together", settled as the English word for connecting or linking things together.