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Where does the word "mountain" come from? It comes from Latin mons, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "mountain" come from? It comes from Latin mons, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Mountain’s story begins in Latin: mons meant “a mountain.” A mountain, a large mass of rock and earth. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as montaigne. Carried into French for a large natural elevation of land. It reached English by 1200s as mountain. Settled as the English word for a large natural elevation of land. Today, mountain means a large natural elevation of land, higher and steeper than a hill.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient mons "a mountain", a mountain, a large mass of rock and earth.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval montaigne "a large elevation of land", carried into French for a large natural elevation of land.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s mountain "a large natural elevation of land", settled as the English word for a large natural elevation of land.