English
performance
Performance comes from Middle English parfourmaunce, equivalent to perform + -ance.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500parfourmaunce
- Englishearliest quotation 1959performance
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500parfourmaunce
- Englishearliest quotation 1959performance
Earliest quotation: 1959, Georgette Heyer: “Charles had not been employed above six months at…”
Formed from perform + -ance
Proto-Germanic *frumjaną ‘to promote; to accomplish’
…
Old French fornir ‘to provide, supply’
Old French parfornir ‘to complete, accomplish’
Anglo-Norman performer
Middle English parformen ‘to perform’
English perform
Every English word from Middle English parfourmaunce
Today it means
noun The act of performing; carrying into execution or action; execution; achievement; accomplishment; representation by action.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English parfourmaunce / performance