profound

Where does the word "profound" come from? It comes from Latin fundus, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

Profound’s story begins in Latin: fundus meant “bottom, base.” Bottom, base, combined with pro- (forth). Within Latin, it grew into profundus by ancient. Deep, from pro- (forth) and fundus (bottom). From there it passed into Old French as profund by medieval. Carried into French for something intellectually or emotionally deep. It reached English by 1300s as profound. Settled as the English word for something very deep or intense. Today, profound means having or showing great insight or depth, or very deeply felt.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient fundus "bottom, base", bottom, base, combined with pro- (forth).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient profundus "deep", deep, from pro- (forth) and fundus (bottom).
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval profund "intellectually or emotionally deep", carried into French for something intellectually or emotionally deep.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s profound "very deep, intense, or insightful", settled as the English word for something very deep or intense.