society

Where does the word "society" come from? It comes from Latin societas, and was adopted directly into English (1530s).

Society’s story begins in Latin: societas meant “partnership.” A partnership, from socius 'companion'; the tax-farming societates publicanorum were Rome's nearest thing to companies with shares. It reached English by 1530s as society. Came via Middle French société; the Royal Society received its royal charter in 1662, and 'society' for the whole social order came in the 1600s. Today, society means people living together in an ordered community; an organisation.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · classical societas "partnership", a partnership, from socius 'companion'; the tax-farming societates publicanorum were Rome's nearest thing to companies with shares.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1530s society "community; organisation", came via Middle French société; the Royal Society received its royal charter in 1662, and 'society' for the whole social order came in the 1600s.