transpose

Where does the word "transpose" come from? It comes from Latin trans ponere, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

Transpose’s story begins in Latin: trans ponere meant “to place across, to move.” To place across, to move, from trans- (across) and ponere (to place). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as transposer. Carried into French for changing the order or position of things. It reached English by 1400s as transpose. Settled as the English word for switching the position or order of two things. Today, transpose means to switch the position or order of two or more things, or to change the key of music.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient trans ponere "to place across, to move", to place across, to move, from trans- (across) and ponere (to place).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval transposer "to change the order or position of things", carried into French for changing the order or position of things.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s transpose "to switch the position or order of two things", settled as the English word for switching the position or order of two things.