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Tracing “”…
Where does the word "liquor" come from? It comes from Latin liquor, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "liquor" come from? It comes from Latin liquor, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Liquor’s story begins in Latin: liquor meant “liquid, fluid.” From 'liquere', to be fluid. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as licour. Any liquid, including juices. It reached English by 1200s as liquor. Narrowed to alcoholic drink in the 1700s. Today, liquor means strong alcoholic drink.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient liquor "liquid, fluid", from 'liquere', to be fluid.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval licour "liquid", any liquid, including juices.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s liquor "liquid", narrowed to alcoholic drink in the 1700s.