Etymology Map
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Return

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to come back; to give back

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
tornare
Latin · ancient
"to turn on a lathe"
from Greek 'tornos', lathe
2
Stage 2 of 3
retorner
Old French · medieval
"to turn back"
're-' plus 'torner'
3
Stage 3 of 3
return
English · 1300s
"to come back"
tax 'returns' date from the 1700s
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Read the full story

Return’s story begins in Latin: tornare meant “to turn on a lathe.” From Greek 'tornos', lathe. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as retorner. 're-' plus 'torner'. It reached English by 1300s as return. Tax 'returns' date from the 1700s. Today, return means to come back; to give back.