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Where does the word "space" come from? It comes from Latin spatium, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "space" come from? It comes from Latin spatium, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Space’s story begins in Latin: spatium meant “room, extent.” Possibly related to 'patere', to be open. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as espace. Also meant a span of time. It reached English by 1300s as space. 'outer space' dates from the 1840s. Today, space means a continuous area; the universe beyond Earth.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient spatium "room, extent", possibly related to 'patere', to be open.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval espace "space, time period", also meant a span of time.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s space "an interval", 'outer space' dates from the 1840s.