Etymology Map
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Search

3 stages from Late Latin to English.

Today it means to look carefully for something

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
circare
Late Latin · ancient
"to go round"
from 'circus', circle
2
Stage 2 of 3
cerchier
Old French · medieval
"to explore, search"
meant going round and round looking
3
Stage 3 of 3
search
English · 1300s
"to look for"
'search engine' dates from the 1980s
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Read the full story

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.