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Where does the word "price" come from? It comes from Latin pretium, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "price" come from? It comes from Latin pretium, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Price’s story begins in Latin: pretium meant “value, reward.” The same root as 'precious' and 'appreciate'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as pris. The source of 'price', 'prize' and 'praise'. It reached English by 1200s as price. 'priceless' dates from the 1590s. Today, price means the amount of money expected for something.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient pretium "value, reward", the same root as 'precious' and 'appreciate'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval pris "price, praise", the source of 'price', 'prize' and 'praise'.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s price "value; cost", 'priceless' dates from the 1590s.