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Where does the word "question" come from? It comes from Latin quaestio, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "question" come from? It comes from Latin quaestio, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Question’s story begins in Latin: quaestio meant “inquiry.” From 'quaerere', to seek, the root of 'quest'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as question. Also meant judicial torture. It reached English by 1200s as question. 'question mark' dates from the 1800s. Today, question means a sentence asking for information.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient quaestio "inquiry", from 'quaerere', to seek, the root of 'quest'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval question "question", also meant judicial torture.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s question "inquiry", 'question mark' dates from the 1800s.