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Where does the word "present" come from? It comes from Latin praesens, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "present" come from? It comes from Latin praesens, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Present’s story begins in Latin: praesens meant “being at hand.” 'prae-', before, plus 'esse', to be. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as present. Both 'here now' and a gift, something presented. It reached English by 1200s as present. 'present' as a gift dates from the 1200s too. Today, present means existing now; a gift.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient praesens "being at hand", 'prae-', before, plus 'esse', to be.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval present "present", both 'here now' and a gift, something presented.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s present "here now", 'present' as a gift dates from the 1200s too.