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Where does the word "violet" come from? It comes from Latin viola, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "violet" come from? It comes from Latin viola, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Violet’s story begins in Latin: viola meant “violet.” Possibly related to Greek 'ion', violet. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as violete. A diminutive of 'viole'. It reached English by 1300s as violet. The colour name dates from the 1300s too. Today, violet means a small purple flower; a bluish-purple colour.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient viola "violet", possibly related to Greek 'ion', violet.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval violete "small violet", a diminutive of 'viole'.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s violet "the flower", the colour name dates from the 1300s too.