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Where does the word "round" come from? It comes from Latin rotundus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "round" come from? It comes from Latin rotundus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Round’s story begins in Latin: rotundus meant “wheel-shaped.” From 'rota', wheel, the root of 'rotate'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as roont. Lost the middle syllable in French. It reached English by 1300s as round. 'a round of drinks' dates from the 1600s. Today, round means shaped like a circle.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient rotundus "wheel-shaped", from 'rota', wheel, the root of 'rotate'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval roont "round", lost the middle syllable in French.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s round "circular", 'a round of drinks' dates from the 1600s.