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Where does the word "oval" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin ovalis, and was adopted directly into English (1570s).
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Where does the word "oval" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin ovalis, and was adopted directly into English (1570s).
Oval’s story begins in Medieval Latin: ovalis meant “egg-shaped.” From 'ovum', egg. It reached English by 1570s as oval. The White House's Oval Office dates from 1909. Today, oval means egg-shaped.
- Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval ovalis "egg-shaped", from 'ovum', egg.
- Stage 2 · English · 1570s oval "egg-shaped", the White House's Oval Office dates from 1909.