Etymology Map
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Preach

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to deliver a religious address; to urge moral views

Where does the word "preach" come from? It comes from Latin praedicare, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
praedicare
Latin · classical
"to proclaim"
'to proclaim publicly'; Church Latin used it for proclaiming the gospel
2
Stage 2 of 3
prechier
Old French · 1000s
"to preach"
after Pope Urban II's call at Clermont in 1095, Peter the Hermit preached the First Crusade across northern France
3
Stage 3 of 3
preach
English · 1200s
"to deliver a sermon"
the Dominicans, formally the Order of Preachers, reached England in 1221
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Read the full story

Preach’s story begins in Latin: praedicare meant “to proclaim.” 'to proclaim publicly'; Church Latin used it for proclaiming the gospel. By 1000s, the word had taken hold in Old French as prechier. After Pope Urban II's call at Clermont in 1095, Peter the Hermit preached the First Crusade across northern France. It reached English by 1200s as preach. The Dominicans, formally the Order of Preachers, reached England in 1221. Today, preach means to deliver a religious address; to urge moral views.