state

Where does the word "state" come from? It comes from Latin stare, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1200s).

State’s story begins in Latin: stare meant “to stand.” The root of 'status', 'statue' and 'estate'. Within Latin, it grew into status by ancient. A standing, a condition, from stare. From there it passed into Old French as estat by medieval. Carried into French for a condition of being, or a political territory. It reached English by 1200s as state. Settled as the English word for a condition of something, or a governed territory. Today, state means a condition or way something exists, or a politically organized territory or nation.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient stare "to stand", the root of 'status', 'statue' and 'estate'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient status "a standing, a condition", a standing, a condition, from stare.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval estat "a condition of being, or a political territory", carried into French for a condition of being, or a political territory.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s state "a condition of something, or a politically organized territory", settled as the English word for a condition of something, or a governed territory.