millennium

Where does the word "millennium" come from? It comes from Latin mille, and was adopted directly into English (1630s).

Millennium’s story begins in Latin: mille meant “a thousand.” A thousand, combined with annus (year). It reached English by 1630s as millennium. Settled as the English word for a period of one thousand years. Today, millennium means a period of one thousand years.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient mille "a thousand", a thousand, combined with annus (year).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1630s millennium "a period of one thousand years", settled as the English word for a period of one thousand years.