ration

Where does the word "ration" come from? It comes from Latin reri, passing through Latin and French before entering English (1550-1702).

Ration’s story begins in Latin: reri meant “to reckon, calculate.” A verb meaning to reckon or calculate. Within Latin, it grew into rationem by ancient. A noun for reckoning that later, in Medieval Latin, specialized to a computed food allowance. From there it passed into French as ration by medieval. Narrowed to a fixed allotment of food or supplies. It reached English by 1550-1702 as ration. Entered meaning 'reasoning', then specialized to a fixed food allowance, especially in military and wartime use. Today, ration means a fixed allowance of food or provisions, especially during scarcity.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient reri "to reckon, calculate", a verb meaning to reckon or calculate.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient rationem "reckoning, reason; a computed share", a noun for reckoning that later, in Medieval Latin, specialized to a computed food allowance.
3. Stage 3 · French · medieval ration "a fixed allowance of food", narrowed to a fixed allotment of food or supplies.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1550-1702 ration "a fixed allowance of food or supplies", entered meaning 'reasoning', then specialized to a fixed food allowance, especially in military and wartime use.