statue

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

Statue’s story begins in Latin: stare meant “to stand.” The root of 'state', 'status' and 'station'. Within Latin, it grew into statua by ancient. A standing image, from stare (to stand). From there it passed into Old French as statue by medieval. Carried into French for a sculpted human or animal figure. It reached English by 1300s as statue. Settled as the English word for a sculpted figure of a person or animal. Today, statue means a carved or cast figure of a person or animal, usually life-size or larger.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient stare "to stand", the root of 'state', 'status' and 'station'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient statua "a standing image", a standing image, from stare (to stand).
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval statue "a sculpted human or animal figure", carried into French for a sculpted human or animal figure.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s statue "a sculpted figure of a person or animal", settled as the English word for a sculpted figure of a person or animal.