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Where does the word "patience" come from? It comes from Latin patientia, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "patience" come from? It comes from Latin patientia, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Patience’s story begins in Latin: patientia meant “endurance.” From 'pati', to suffer. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as pacience. One of the Christian virtues. It reached English by 1200s as patience. The card game 'patience' dates from the 1800s. Today, patience means the ability to wait calmly.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient patientia "endurance", from 'pati', to suffer.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval pacience "patience", one of the Christian virtues.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s patience "endurance", the card game 'patience' dates from the 1800s.