paragraph

Where does the word "paragraph" come from? It comes from Greek paragraphos, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1500s).

Paragraph’s story begins in Greek: paragraphos meant “a mark beside text.” A mark written beside text to indicate a break, from para- (beside) and graphein (to write). By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as paragraphus. Carried into Latin for the same marginal mark. From there it passed into Old French as paragraphe by medieval. Carried into French for a marked section of text. It reached English by 1500s as paragraph. Settled as the English word for a distinct section of writing. Today, paragraph means a distinct section of writing dealing with a single theme.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient paragraphos "a mark beside text", a mark written beside text to indicate a break, from para- (beside) and graphein (to write).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient paragraphus "a marginal mark", carried into Latin for the same marginal mark.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval paragraphe "a marked section of text", carried into French for a marked section of text.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1500s paragraph "a distinct section of writing", settled as the English word for a distinct section of writing.