Etymology Map
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Umpire

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means an official who enforces the rules of a game

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
non par
Latin · ancient
"not equal"
Latin 'non', not, plus 'par', equal: a third person who is no one's equal
2
Stage 2 of 3
nonper
Old French · medieval
"odd man out"
a third party called in to settle disputes
3
Stage 3 of 3
umpire
English · 1400s
"arbitrator"
'a noumpere' was misheard as 'an oumpere', dropping the n
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Read the full story

Umpire’s story begins in Latin: non par meant “not equal.” Latin 'non', not, plus 'par', equal: a third person who is no one's equal. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as nonper. A third party called in to settle disputes. It reached English by 1400s as umpire. 'a noumpere' was misheard as 'an oumpere', dropping the n. Today, umpire means an official who enforces the rules of a game.