native

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

Native’s story begins in Latin: nativus meant “born, innate.” Born, innate, from nasci (to be born). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as naitif. Carried into French for something belonging to a place by birth. It reached English by 1300s as native. Settled as the English word for a person born in a particular place. Today, native means belonging to a particular place by birth or origin.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient nativus "born, innate", born, innate, from nasci (to be born).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval naitif "belonging to a place by birth", carried into French for something belonging to a place by birth.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s native "belonging to a particular place by birth", settled as the English word for a person born in a particular place.