venture

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

Venture’s story begins in Latin: venire meant “to come.” To come, the root behind adventure (ad- + venire, to arrive). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as aventure. Carried into French for a risky undertaking or chance occurrence. It reached English by 1400s as venture. Shortened from adventure and settled as the English word for a risky undertaking. Today, venture means a risky or daring undertaking, especially a business enterprise.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient venire "to come", to come, the root behind adventure (ad- + venire, to arrive).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval aventure "a risky undertaking, a chance occurrence", carried into French for a risky undertaking or chance occurrence.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s venture "a risky or daring undertaking", shortened from adventure and settled as the English word for a risky undertaking.