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Police

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means the civil force responsible for keeping public order and enforcing the law

Where does the word "police" come from? It comes from Greek politeía, passing through Middle French before entering English (1700s).

politeía→police→police

Greek · ancient

"constitution, government"

'citizenship, constitution', from polis 'city'; Plato's Republic is in Greek the Politeía

Middle French · 1400s

"public order, its enforcement"

via Late Latin politia, public order and administration; Louis XIV created the post of Lieutenant General of Police for Paris in 1667, first held by Gabriel Nicolas de La Reynie

English · 1700s

"law-enforcement force"

long resisted as a French idea; Robert Peel's Metropolitan Police Act of 1829 created London's force, whose officers were nicknamed 'bobbies' after him

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Police’s story begins in Greek: politeía meant “constitution, government.” 'citizenship, constitution', from polis 'city'; Plato's Republic is in Greek the Politeía. By 1400s, the word had taken hold in Middle French as police. Via Late Latin politia, public order and administration; Louis XIV created the post of Lieutenant General of Police for Paris in 1667, first held by Gabriel Nicolas de La Reynie. It reached English by 1700s as police. Long resisted as a French idea; Robert Peel's Metropolitan Police Act of 1829 created London's force, whose officers were nicknamed 'bobbies' after him. Today, police means the civil force responsible for keeping public order and enforcing the law.