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Where does the word "matter" come from? It comes from Latin materia, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "matter" come from? It comes from Latin materia, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Matter’s story begins in Latin: materia meant “substance, timber.” From 'mater', mother: the stuff things are made of. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as matiere. Also a subject of discussion. It reached English by 1200s as matter. 'what's the matter?' dates from the 1500s. Today, matter means physical substance; a subject.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient materia "substance, timber", from 'mater', mother: the stuff things are made of.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval matiere "substance", also a subject of discussion.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s matter "substance; subject", 'what's the matter?' dates from the 1500s.