mission

Where does the word "mission" come from? It comes from Latin mittere, passing through Latin before entering English (1590s).

Mission’s story begins in Latin: mittere meant “to send.” The root of 'missile', 'message' and 'dismiss'. Within Latin, it grew into missio by ancient. A sending, from mittere. It reached English by 1590s as mission. Settled as the English word for an important assignment or task sent forth. Today, mission means an important task or purpose a person or group is sent to accomplish.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient mittere "to send", the root of 'missile', 'message' and 'dismiss'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient missio "a sending", a sending, from mittere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1590s mission "an important assignment given to a person or group", settled as the English word for an important assignment or task sent forth.