Etymology Map
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Question

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a sentence asking for information

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
quaestio
Latin · ancient
"inquiry"
from 'quaerere', to seek, the root of 'quest'
2
Stage 2 of 3
question
Old French · medieval
"question"
also meant judicial torture
3
Stage 3 of 3
question
English · 1200s
"inquiry"
'question mark' dates from the 1800s
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Read the full story

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.