record

Where does the word "record" come from? It comes from Latin cor, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

Record’s story begins in Latin: cor meant “heart.” Heart, giving rise to recordari (to remember, literally to call back to heart). Within Latin, it grew into recordari by ancient. To remember, to call to mind, from re- and cor. From there it passed into Old French as recorder by medieval. Carried into French for setting down information for future reference. It reached English by 1300s as record. Settled as the English word for a written account, or to set information down. Today, record means a written or recorded account of something, or to capture information for future reference.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient cor "heart", heart, giving rise to recordari (to remember, literally to call back to heart).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient recordari "to remember, to call to mind", to remember, to call to mind, from re- and cor.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval recorder "to set down information for future reference", carried into French for setting down information for future reference.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s record "a written account, or to set information down for future reference", settled as the English word for a written account, or to set information down.