noun

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

Noun’s story begins in Latin: nomen meant “name.” Grammarians used 'nomen' for the naming word. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as non. Carried into French for a word naming a person, place, or thing. It reached English by 1300s as noun. Settled as the English word for a word naming a person, place, thing, or idea. Today, noun means a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient nomen "name", grammarians used 'nomen' for the naming word.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval non "a word naming a person, place, or thing", carried into French for a word naming a person, place, or thing.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s noun "a word naming a person, place, thing, or idea", settled as the English word for a word naming a person, place, thing, or idea.