volume

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

Volume’s story begins in Latin: volvere meant “to roll.” To roll, giving rise to volumen (a roll, a scroll). Within Latin, it grew into volumen by ancient. A roll of writing, a scroll, from volvere. From there it passed into Old French as volume by medieval. Carried into French for a scroll or bound book. It reached English by 1400s as volume. Settled as the English word for a book, or an amount of space or loudness. Today, volume means a book, the amount of space something occupies, or the loudness of a sound.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient volvere "to roll", to roll, giving rise to volumen (a roll, a scroll).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient volumen "a roll of writing, a scroll", a roll of writing, a scroll, from volvere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval volume "a scroll or bound book", carried into French for a scroll or bound book.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1400s volume "a book, or an amount of space or loudness", settled as the English word for a book, or an amount of space or loudness.