Etymology Map
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Review

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a formal assessment; a critical article

Where does the word "review" come from? It comes from Latin revidere, passing through French before entering English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
revidere
Latin · ancient
"to see again"
're-' plus 'videre', to see
2
Stage 2 of 3
reveue
French · 1500s
"inspection"
past participle of 'reveoir'
3
Stage 3 of 3
review
English · 1500s
"military inspection"
book and film 'reviews' date from the 1600s–1900s
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Read the full story

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.