military

Where does the word "military" come from? It comes from Latin militaris, and was adopted directly into English (1580s).

Military’s story begins in Latin: militaris meant “of soldiers.” From miles 'soldier'; Gaius Marius's reforms of 107 BC opened the legions to landless volunteers, making soldiering a career. It reached English by 1580s as military. Came via Middle French militaire; President Eisenhower warned of the 'military-industrial complex' in his farewell address of 1961. Today, military means relating to soldiers or armed forces; the armed forces.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · classical militaris "of soldiers", from miles 'soldier'; Gaius Marius's reforms of 107 BC opened the legions to landless volunteers, making soldiering a career.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1580s military "relating to armed forces", came via Middle French militaire; President Eisenhower warned of the 'military-industrial complex' in his farewell address of 1961.