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Where does the word "summit" come from? It comes from Latin summum, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).
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Where does the word "summit" come from? It comes from Latin summum, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).
Summit’s story begins in Latin: summum meant “highest point.” From 'summus', highest. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as somete. A diminutive of 'som', top. It reached English by 1400s as summit. Political 'summits' date from the 1950s. Today, summit means the highest point; a meeting of leaders.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient summum "highest point", from 'summus', highest.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval somete "top", a diminutive of 'som', top.
- Stage 3 · English · 1400s summit "top", political 'summits' date from the 1950s.