Etymology Map
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Refine

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to remove impurities; to improve

Where does the word "refine" come from? It comes from Latin re- + fin, passing through French before entering English (1580s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
re- + fin
Latin · ancient
"make fine again"
're-' plus 'fine', from Latin 'finis', end or perfection
2
Stage 2 of 3
raffiner
French · 1500s
"to refine"
used of sugar and metals
3
Stage 3 of 3
refine
English · 1580s
"to purify"
oil 'refineries' date from the 1800s
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Read the full story

Refine’s story begins in Latin: re- + fin meant “make fine again.” 're-' plus 'fine', from Latin 'finis', end or perfection. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as raffiner. Used of sugar and metals. It reached English by 1580s as refine. Oil 'refineries' date from the 1800s. Today, refine means to remove impurities; to improve.