mutual

Where does the word "mutual" come from? It comes from Latin mutare, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1400s).

Mutual’s story begins in Latin: mutare meant “to change, to exchange.” The root of 'mutate', 'commute' and 'moult'. Within Latin, it grew into mutuus by ancient. Reciprocal, borrowed, from mutare. From there it passed into Old French as mutuel by medieval. Carried into French for something shared equally between two parties. It reached English by 1400s as mutual. Settled as the English word for something felt or done equally by two parties. Today, mutual means shared or experienced equally by two or more parties.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient mutare "to change, to exchange", the root of 'mutate', 'commute' and 'moult'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient mutuus "reciprocal, borrowed", reciprocal, borrowed, from mutare.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval mutuel "something shared equally between two parties", carried into French for something shared equally between two parties.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1400s mutual "felt or done equally by two or more parties", settled as the English word for something felt or done equally by two parties.