trace

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

Trace’s story begins in Latin: trahere meant “to pull, to draw.” The root of 'tract', 'tractor' and 'traction'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as tracier. Carried into French for following a path or outline, from tractus. It reached English by 1300s as trace. Settled as the English word for following the course of something, or a faint mark left behind. Today, trace means a very small amount or faint mark left behind, or to follow the course of something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient trahere "to pull, to draw", the root of 'tract', 'tractor' and 'traction'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval tracier "to follow a path or outline", carried into French for following a path or outline, from tractus.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s trace "to follow the course of something, or a faint mark left behind", settled as the English word for following the course of something, or a faint mark left behind.