purpose

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

Purpose’s story begins in Latin: proponere meant “to put forward.” 'pro-', forth, plus 'ponere', to place, the root of 'propose'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as porpos. What one sets forth to do. It reached English by 1200s as purpose. 'on purpose' dates from the 1500s. Today, purpose means the reason for which something is done.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient proponere "to put forward", 'pro-', forth, plus 'ponere', to place, the root of 'propose'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval porpos "intention", what one sets forth to do.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s purpose "intention", 'on purpose' dates from the 1500s.