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Where does the word "search" come from? It comes from Late Latin circare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "search" come from? It comes from Late Latin circare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Search’s story begins in Late Latin: circare meant “to go round.” From 'circus', circle. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as cerchier. Meant going round and round looking. It reached English by 1300s as search. 'search engine' dates from the 1980s. Today, search means to look carefully for something.
- Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient circare "to go round", from 'circus', circle.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval cerchier "to explore, search", meant going round and round looking.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s search "to look for", 'search engine' dates from the 1980s.