Etymology Map
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Reserve

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to keep for future use

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

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

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.