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Where does the word "review" come from? It comes from Latin revidere, passing through French before entering English (1500s).
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Where does the word "review" come from? It comes from Latin revidere, passing through French before entering English (1500s).
Review’s story begins in Latin: revidere meant “to see again.” 're-' plus 'videre', to see. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as reveue. Past participle of 'reveoir'. It reached English by 1500s as review. Book and film 'reviews' date from the 1600s–1900s. Today, review means a formal assessment; a critical article.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient revidere "to see again", 're-' plus 'videre', to see.
- Stage 2 · French · 1500s reveue "inspection", past participle of 'reveoir'.
- Stage 3 · English · 1500s review "military inspection", book and film 'reviews' date from the 1600s–1900s.