progress

Where does the word "progress" come from? It comes from Latin progredi, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Progress’s story begins in Latin: progredi meant “to step forward.” To step forward, from pro- (forward) and gradi (to step). It reached English by 1400s as progress. Settled as the English word for moving forward toward a goal. Today, progress means forward movement toward a destination, goal, or more advanced state.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient progredi "to step forward", to step forward, from pro- (forward) and gradi (to step).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s progress "forward movement toward a destination or goal", settled as the English word for moving forward toward a goal.