office

Where does the word "office" come from? It comes from Latin officium, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Office’s story begins in Latin: officium meant “duty, service.” 'opus', work, plus 'facere', to do. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as office. A duty or post. It reached English by 1200s as office. The sense 'place of work' dates from the 1300s. Today, office means a room for business; a position of authority.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient officium "duty, service", 'opus', work, plus 'facere', to do.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval office "duty, position", a duty or post.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s office "duty", the sense 'place of work' dates from the 1300s.