vocation

Where does the word "vocation" come from? It comes from Latin vocare, passing through Latin before entering English (1400s).

Vocation’s story begins in Latin: vocare meant “to call.” A religious 'calling', the root of 'voice' and 'vocal'. Within Latin, it grew into vocatio by ancient. A calling, a summons, from vocare. It reached English by 1400s as vocation. Settled as the English word for a strong feeling of suitability for a particular career. Today, vocation means a strong sense of suitability or calling for a particular occupation.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient vocare "to call", a religious 'calling', the root of 'voice' and 'vocal'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient vocatio "a calling, a summons", a calling, a summons, from vocare.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s vocation "a strong feeling of suitability for a particular career", settled as the English word for a strong feeling of suitability for a particular career.