nuisance

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

Nuisance’s story begins in Latin: nocere meant “to harm.” The root of 'noxious' and 'innocent'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as nuisance. A legal term for harm. It reached English by 1400s as nuisance. The sense 'annoying thing' dates from the 1600s. Today, nuisance means an annoying person or thing.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient nocere "to harm", the root of 'noxious' and 'innocent'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval nuisance "harm", a legal term for harm.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s nuisance "harm", the sense 'annoying thing' dates from the 1600s.