politics

Where does the word "politics" come from? It comes from Greek politika, passing through Latin and Middle French before entering English (1500s-1600s).

Politics’s story begins in Greek: politika meant “affairs of the city-state.” From "polis" (city-state), the affairs of the city-state. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as politica. From Aristotle's 'Politika', on the affairs of the city-state, 'polis'. From there it passed into Middle French as politique by medieval. Carried the civic concept into French. It reached English by 1500s-1600s as politics. Settled as the English term for the science of government. Today, politics means the activities associated with governing a country or area.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient politika "affairs of the city-state", from "polis" (city-state), the affairs of the city-state.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient politica "matters of the state", from Aristotle's 'Politika', on the affairs of the city-state, 'polis'.
3. Stage 3 · Middle French · medieval politique "matters of governance", carried the civic concept into French.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1500s-1600s politics "activities associated with governance", settled as the English term for the science of government.