refuge

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

Refuge’s story begins in Latin: refugium meant “place of escape.” 're-', back, plus 'fugere', to flee. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as refuge. A shelter. It reached English by 1300s as refuge. 'refugee' was coined for French Protestants in the 1680s. Today, refuge means a place of safety.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient refugium "place of escape", 're-', back, plus 'fugere', to flee.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval refuge "refuge", a shelter.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s refuge "shelter", 'refugee' was coined for French Protestants in the 1680s.