Etymology Map
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Summit

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the highest point; a meeting of leaders

Where does the word "summit" come from? It comes from Latin summum, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
summum
Latin · ancient
"highest point"
from 'summus', highest
2
Stage 2 of 3
somete
Old French · medieval
"top"
a diminutive of 'som', top
3
Stage 3 of 3
summit
English · 1400s
"top"
political 'summits' date from the 1950s
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Read the full story

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.