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Where does the word "pause" come from? It comes from Greek pausis, passing through Latin before entering English (1400s).
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Where does the word "pause" come from? It comes from Greek pausis, passing through Latin before entering English (1400s).
Pause’s story begins in Greek: pausis meant “stopping.” From 'pauein', to stop. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as pausa. A halt. It reached English by 1400s as pause. The same root gives 'menopause'. Today, pause means a temporary stop in action or speech.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient pausis "stopping", from 'pauein', to stop.
- Stage 2 · Latin · ancient pausa "halt", a halt.
- Stage 3 · English · 1400s pause "a temporary stop", the same root gives 'menopause'.