Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate
Tracing “”…
Where does the word "pendant" come from? It comes from Latin pendere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "pendant" come from? It comes from Latin pendere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Pendant’s story begins in Latin: pendere meant “to hang.” The root of 'pendulum'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as pendant. Present participle of 'pendre'. It reached English by 1300s as pendant. Jewellery 'pendants' followed. Today, pendant means a piece of jewellery hanging from a chain.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient pendere "to hang", the root of 'pendulum'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval pendant "hanging", present participle of 'pendre'.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s pendant "hanging ornament", jewellery 'pendants' followed.