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Thesis

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a statement put forward to be argued; a long academic essay

Where does the word "thesis" come from? It comes from Greek thesis, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
thesis
Greek · ancient
"a placing, proposition"
from 'tithenai', to put; also a term for the downbeat in music
2
Stage 2 of 3
thesis
Late Latin · ancient
"proposition"
used in rhetoric for a general question to discuss
3
Stage 3 of 3
thesis
English · 1500s
"a proposition; dissertation"
university students defended theses; now the long dissertation itself
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Thesis’s story begins in Greek: thesis meant “a placing, proposition.” From 'tithenai', to put; also a term for the downbeat in music. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as thesis. Used in rhetoric for a general question to discuss. It reached English by 1500s as thesis. University students defended theses; now the long dissertation itself. Today, thesis means a statement put forward to be argued; a long academic essay.