reserve

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

Reserve’s story begins in Latin: reservare meant “to keep back.” 're-' plus 'servare', to keep. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as reserver. Military 'reserves' date from the 1600s. It reached English by 1300s as reserve. Military 'reserves' date from the 1600s; hotel reservations from the 1900s. Today, reserve means to keep for future use.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient reservare "to keep back", 're-' plus 'servare', to keep.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval reserver "to keep back", military 'reserves' date from the 1600s.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s reserve "to keep back", military 'reserves' date from the 1600s; hotel reservations from the 1900s.