Etymology Map
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Sum

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the total from adding numbers

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
summa
Latin · ancient
"highest, total"
feminine of 'summus', highest; Romans added columns upward, writing the total at the top
2
Stage 2 of 3
somme
Old French · medieval
"sum"
used for money totals
3
Stage 3 of 3
sum
English · 1200s
"a total"
'summit' shares the root
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Read the full story

Sum’s story begins in Latin: summa meant “highest, total.” Feminine of 'summus', highest; Romans added columns upward, writing the total at the top. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as somme. Used for money totals. It reached English by 1200s as sum. 'summit' shares the root. Today, sum means the total from adding numbers.