soiree

Where does the word "soiree" come from? It comes from Latin serus, passing through Old French and French before entering English (1793).

Soiree’s story begins in Latin: serus meant “late.” An adjective meaning late, giving rise to an adverb for a late hour. By 900s, the word had taken hold in Old French as soir. Narrowed to name the late part of the day. From there it passed into French as soiree by medieval. Soir plus a feminine suffix, coined for an evening's gathering. It reached English by 1793 as soiree. Borrowed for a fashionable evening party. Today, soiree means an evening party or social gathering.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient serus "late", an adjective meaning late, giving rise to an adverb for a late hour.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · 900s soir "evening", narrowed to name the late part of the day.
3. Stage 3 · French · medieval soiree "an evening; an evening party", soir plus a feminine suffix, coined for an evening's gathering.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1793 soiree "an evening party", borrowed for a fashionable evening party.