league

Where does the word "league" come from? It comes from Latin ligare, passing through Italian and French before entering English (1500s).

League’s story begins in Latin: ligare meant “to bind.” The root of 'ligament', 'religion' and 'oblige'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as lega. A binding, an alliance, from Latin ligare. From there it passed into French as ligue by 1500s. Carried into French for a group of states or people joined by agreement. It reached English by 1500s as league. Settled as the English word for a group of states, groups, or teams joined together. Today, league means a group of states, organizations, or sports teams joined together for a common purpose.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient ligare "to bind", the root of 'ligament', 'religion' and 'oblige'.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval lega "a binding, an alliance", a binding, an alliance, from Latin ligare.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1500s ligue "a group joined by agreement", carried into French for a group of states or people joined by agreement.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1500s league "a group of states, groups, or teams joined together for a common purpose", settled as the English word for a group of states, groups, or teams joined together.