rival

Where does the word "rival" come from? It comes from Latin rivalis, and was adopted directly into English (1570s).

Rival’s story begins in Latin: rivalis meant “one sharing a stream with another.” Literally one using the same stream, from rivus (stream, river). It reached English by 1570s as rival. Settled as the word for a competitor for the same goal. Today, rival means a person or group competing with another for the same goal.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient rivalis "one sharing a stream with another", literally one using the same stream, from rivus (stream, river).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1570s rival "a person competing for the same goal as another", settled as the word for a competitor for the same goal.