English
document
Document comes from Middle French document, from Latin documentum ‘lesson’, from doceō ‘to teach’, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- ‘to take’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*deḱ-‘to take’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*doḱ-éye-tireconstructedcausative of *deḱ-
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*dokeō‘to cause to perceive’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdoceō‘teach’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdocumentum‘lesson’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600document
- Englishearliest quotation 1614same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*deḱ-‘to take’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*doḱ-éye-tireconstructedcausative of *deḱ-
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*dokeō‘to cause to perceive’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdoceō‘teach’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdocumentum‘lesson’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600document
- Englishearliest quotation 1614same form
Earliest quotation: 1614, Sir Walter Raleigh: “They were forthwith stoned to death, as a document…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- ‘to take’
tail, dignity, decent, decoration, decor, paradox, disdain, indignation, dogma, fonda, dainty, indignant, décor, dignitary, deign, digne, 54 more
through Latin doceō ‘teach’
doctor, doctrine, dodo, doctrinal, docile, docent, 16 more
through Middle French document
Today it means
noun An original or official paper used as the basis, proof, or support of anything else, including any writing, book, or other instrument conveying information pertinent to such proof or support.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- / document