verb

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

Verb’s story begins in Latin: verbum meant “word.” The root of 'verbal' and 'verbose'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as verbe. Grammarians' term for the action word. It reached English by 1300s as verb. 'verbatim' means word for word. Today, verb means a word describing an action or state.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient verbum "word", the root of 'verbal' and 'verbose'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval verbe "verb", grammarians' term for the action word.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s verb "verb", 'verbatim' means word for word.