Etymology Map
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Purpose

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the reason for which something is done

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

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

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.