judge

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

Judge’s story begins in Latin: ius meant “law, right.” Law, right, combined with dicere (to say). Within Latin, it grew into iudicare by ancient. To judge, to declare the law, from ius (law) and dicere (to say). From there it passed into Old French as jugier by medieval. Carried into French for deciding a legal case. It reached English by 1200s as judge. Settled as the English word for a person who decides legal cases, or to form an opinion. Today, judge means a public official who presides over court cases, or to form an opinion about something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient ius "law, right", law, right, combined with dicere (to say).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient iudicare "to judge, to declare the law", to judge, to declare the law, from ius (law) and dicere (to say).
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval jugier "to decide a legal case", carried into French for deciding a legal case.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s judge "a person who decides legal cases, or to form an opinion", settled as the English word for a person who decides legal cases, or to form an opinion.