music

Where does the word "music" come from? It comes from Greek mousike, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (medieval).

Music’s story begins in Greek: mousike meant “the art of the Muses.” Literally "art of the Muses". By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as musica. Greek 'mousikē', the art of the Muses. From there it passed into Old French as musique by medieval. Carried the art form's name into French. It reached English by medieval as music. Settled as the English word for the art form. Today, music means the art of arranging sounds in time to produce a composition.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient mousike "the art of the Muses", literally "art of the Muses".
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient musica "music", Greek 'mousikē', the art of the Muses.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval musique "music", carried the art form's name into French.
4. Stage 4 · English · medieval music "the art of arranging sound", settled as the English word for the art form.