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Where does the word "stature" come from? It comes from Latin statura, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "stature" come from? It comes from Latin statura, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Stature’s story begins in Latin: statura meant “height, size.” From 'stare', to stand. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as estature. A person's height. It reached English by 1300s as stature. The sense 'reputation' dates from the 1800s. Today, stature means a person's height; importance.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient statura "height, size", from 'stare', to stand.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval estature "height", a person's height.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s stature "height", the sense 'reputation' dates from the 1800s.