English
perform
Perform comes from Middle English parformen, from Anglo-Norman performer, an alteration of Old French parfornir ‘to accomplish’, from par- + fornir ‘to provide’.
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*frumjaną‘to promote; to accomplish’reconstructed
- Frankishc. 250–700*frumjan‘to complete, execute’reconstructed
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400fornir‘to provide, supply’
- Old French, derivedc. 842–1400parfornir‘to complete, accomplish’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400performer
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500parformen‘to perform’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1608–1609perform
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*frumjaną‘to promote; to accomplish’reconstructed
- Frankishc. 250–700*frumjan‘to complete, execute’reconstructed
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400fornir‘to provide, supply’
- Old French, derivedc. 842–1400parfornir‘to complete, accomplish’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400performer
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500parformen‘to perform’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1608–1609perform
Earliest quotation: c. 1608–1609, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Coriolanus: “Perform a part thou hast not done before.”
The story
Modernly, rather than Proto-Germanic *frumjaną, associated with Latin formō, analyzable as per- + form.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *promo- ‘in front, forth’
through Proto-Germanic *frumjaną ‘to perform, promote’
Today it means
verb To do (something); to execute.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Germanic *frumjaną / perform