recourse

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

Recourse’s story begins in Latin: recurrere meant “to run back.” To run back, from re- (back) and currere (to run). Within Latin, it grew into recursus by ancient. A running back, from recurrere. From there it passed into Old French as recours by medieval. Carried into French for turning to something for help. It reached English by 1300s as recourse. Settled as the English word for a source of help in a difficult situation. Today, recourse means a source of help that can be turned to in a difficult situation.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient recurrere "to run back", to run back, from re- (back) and currere (to run).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient recursus "a running back", a running back, from recurrere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval recours "turning to something for help", carried into French for turning to something for help.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s recourse "a source of help in a difficult situation", settled as the English word for a source of help in a difficult situation.