repertoire

Where does the word "repertoire" come from? It comes from Latin reperire, passing through Late Latin and French before entering English (1847).

Repertoire’s story begins in Latin: reperire meant “to find, invent.” Re- (intensive) plus an old verb 'to produce, bring forth'. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as repertorium. A noun formed for a catalogued list of things found. From there it passed into French as repertoire by 1300s. Narrowed to mean a running index or list. It reached English by 1847 as repertoire. Specialized to the stock of works a performer or company has ready to present. Today, repertoire means the range of skills, works, or techniques a person or group is prepared to perform.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient reperire "to find, invent", re- (intensive) plus an old verb 'to produce, bring forth'.
2. Stage 2 · Late Latin · ancient repertorium "an inventory", a noun formed for a catalogued list of things found.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1300s repertoire "an index, list", narrowed to mean a running index or list.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1847 repertoire "a company's stock of ready performances", specialized to the stock of works a performer or company has ready to present.