Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate
Tracing “”…
Where does the word "propose" come from? It comes from Latin proponere, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "propose" come from? It comes from Latin proponere, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
Propose’s story begins in Latin: proponere meant “to place forward, to suggest.” To place forward, to set before, from pro- (forward) and ponere (to place). It reached English by 1300s as propose. Settled as the English word for putting forward an idea or plan. Today, propose means to put forward a plan or suggestion for consideration, or to offer marriage.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient proponere "to place forward, to suggest", to place forward, to set before, from pro- (forward) and ponere (to place).
- Stage 2 · English · 1300s propose "to put forward an idea, plan, or offer of marriage", settled as the English word for putting forward an idea or plan.