narrative

Where does the word "narrative" come from? It comes from Latin narrare, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Narrative’s story begins in Latin: narrare meant “to tell, to relate.” The root of 'narrate' and 'narrator'. It reached English by 1400s as narrative. Settled as the English word for a spoken or written account of events. Today, narrative means a spoken or written account of connected events, a story.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient narrare "to tell, to relate", the root of 'narrate' and 'narrator'.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s narrative "a spoken or written account of connected events", settled as the English word for a spoken or written account of events.