Etymology Map
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Price

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the amount of money expected for something

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
pretium
Latin · ancient
"value, reward"
the same root as 'precious' and 'appreciate'
2
Stage 2 of 3
pris
Old French · medieval
"price, praise"
the source of 'price', 'prize' and 'praise'
3
Stage 3 of 3
price
English · 1200s
"value; cost"
'priceless' dates from the 1590s
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Read the full story

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.