movement

Where does the word "movement" come from? It comes from Latin movere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Movement’s story begins in Latin: movere meant “to move, to set in motion.” The root of 'motion', 'mobile' and 'motor'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as movoir. Carried into French for the act of moving. It reached English by 1300s as movement. Formed with the French suffix -ment for the act or process of moving. Today, movement means the act or process of moving, or an organized effort to achieve a goal.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient movere "to move, to set in motion", the root of 'motion', 'mobile' and 'motor'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval movoir "the act of moving", carried into French for the act of moving.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s movement "the act or process of moving, or an organized group effort", formed with the French suffix -ment for the act or process of moving.