refund

Where does the word "refund" come from? It comes from Latin fundere, passing through Latin before entering English (1300s).

Refund’s story begins in Latin: fundere meant “to pour.” To pour, combined with re- (back). Within Latin, it grew into refundere by ancient. To pour back, to give back, from re- and fundere. It reached English by 1300s as refund. Settled as the English word for paying money back. Today, refund means to pay money back, especially to a customer who is not satisfied.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient fundere "to pour", to pour, combined with re- (back).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient refundere "to pour back, to give back", to pour back, to give back, from re- and fundere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s refund "to pay money back", settled as the English word for paying money back.