English
estover
Estover comes from Old French estovoir ‘obligation’, and goes back to Latin est opus.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEest opus
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400estovoiras estover‘obligation’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500estovers
- Englishearliest quotation 1873estover
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEest opus
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400estovoiras estover‘obligation’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500estovers
- Englishearliest quotation 1873estover
Earliest quotation: 1873, Alfred John Horwood: “Your husband was seised of only one carucate of…”
Every English word from Latin est opus
Today it means
noun An allowance provided from an estate for a person's support; an allowance of wood for repairs, firewood and fencing.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin est opus / estover