program

Where does the word "program" come from? It comes from Greek programma, passing through French before entering English (1940s).

Program’s story begins in Greek: programma meant “public notice.” 'pro', before, plus 'graphein', to write: a public notice posted in advance. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in French as programme. A list of events or performers. It reached English by 1940s as program. Applied to computer instructions; British English keeps 'program' only for this sense. Today, program means a planned series of events; a set of instructions for a computer.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient programma "public notice", 'pro', before, plus 'graphein', to write: a public notice posted in advance.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1700s programme "agenda, playbill", a list of events or performers.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1940s program "set of computer instructions", applied to computer instructions; British English keeps 'program' only for this sense.