syntax

Where does the word "syntax" come from? It comes from Greek syntaxis, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Syntax’s story begins in Greek: syntaxis meant “an arrangement together.” An arrangement together, from syn- (together) and tassein (to arrange). It reached English by 1600s as syntax. Settled as the English word for the arrangement of words in a sentence. Today, syntax means the arrangement of words and phrases to form well-structured sentences.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient syntaxis "an arrangement together", an arrangement together, from syn- (together) and tassein (to arrange).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s syntax "the arrangement of words to form sentences", settled as the English word for the arrangement of words in a sentence.