topic

Where does the word "topic" come from? It comes from Greek ta topika, passing through Latin before entering English (1630s).

Topic’s story begins in Greek: ta topika meant “matters of commonplaces.” Aristotle's work on 'topoi', commonplaces or stock arguments, from 'topos', place. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as topica. Cicero wrote his own Topica. It reached English by 1630s as topic. Narrowed to the subject of a discussion. Today, topic means a matter dealt with in a text, discussion or conversation.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient ta topika "matters of commonplaces", Aristotle's work on 'topoi', commonplaces or stock arguments, from 'topos', place.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient topica "topics", Cicero wrote his own Topica.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1630s topic "a subject", narrowed to the subject of a discussion.