percent

Where does the word "percent" come from? It comes from Latin per centum, passing through Italian before entering English (1560s).

Percent’s story begins in Latin: per centum meant “by the hundred.” 'by the hundred'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as per cento. Italian merchants and bankers used it in commercial arithmetic; its abbreviation slowly became the % sign. It reached English by 1560s as per cent. Written 'per cent.' with a full stop, as an abbreviation of 'per centum', into the 1900s. Today, percent means out of every hundred.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient per centum "by the hundred", 'by the hundred'.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval per cento "per hundred", Italian merchants and bankers used it in commercial arithmetic; its abbreviation slowly became the % sign.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1560s per cent "per hundred", written 'per cent.' with a full stop, as an abbreviation of 'per centum', into the 1900s.