occupy

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

Occupy’s story begins in Latin: occupare meant “to seize, to take over.” To seize, to take over, from ob- (toward) and capere (to take). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as occuper. Carried into French for taking possession of a place. It reached English by 1300s as occupy. Settled as the English word for taking up space or holding a position. Today, occupy means to take up or hold a place, position, or period of time.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient occupare "to seize, to take over", to seize, to take over, from ob- (toward) and capere (to take).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval occuper "to take possession of a place", carried into French for taking possession of a place.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s occupy "to take up space, time, or a position", settled as the English word for taking up space or holding a position.