Etymology Map
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Tax

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means money that people and businesses must pay to the government

Where does the word "tax" come from? It comes from Latin taxare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
taxare
Latin · ancient
"to assess, to value"
possibly from 'tangere', to touch; also gives 'taxing' in the sense of burdensome
2
Stage 2 of 3
taxer
Old French · medieval
"to impose a levy"
used for the official assessment of what was owed
3
Stage 3 of 3
tax
English · 1300s
"to levy; a levy"
the noun, a compulsory payment to the state, followed the verb
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Read the full story

Tax’s story begins in Latin: taxare meant “to assess, to value.” Possibly from 'tangere', to touch; also gives 'taxing' in the sense of burdensome. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as taxer. Used for the official assessment of what was owed. It reached English by 1300s as tax. The noun, a compulsory payment to the state, followed the verb. Today, tax means money that people and businesses must pay to the government.