Etymology Map
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Round

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means shaped like a circle

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
rotundus
Latin · ancient
"wheel-shaped"
from 'rota', wheel, the root of 'rotate'
2
Stage 2 of 3
roont
Old French · medieval
"round"
lost the middle syllable in French
3
Stage 3 of 3
round
English · 1300s
"circular"
'a round of drinks' dates from the 1600s
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Read the full story

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.