republic

Where does the word "republic" come from? It comes from Latin res publica, passing through French before entering English (1600s).

Republic’s story begins in Latin: res publica meant “the public affair, the state.” Literally the public thing, or the public affair, referring to the state governed by its citizens. By medieval, the word had taken hold in French as republique. Carried into French for a state governed without a monarch. It reached English by 1600s as republic. Settled as the English word for a state governed by elected representatives. Today, republic means a state in which power rests with the people and their elected representatives.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient res publica "the public affair, the state", literally the public thing, or the public affair, referring to the state governed by its citizens.
2. Stage 2 · French · medieval republique "a state without a monarch", carried into French for a state governed without a monarch.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s republic "a state governed by elected representatives, without a monarch", settled as the English word for a state governed by elected representatives.