From France to your dictionary

Hey, etymology lovers! Here are 10 words that traveled from the French

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Did you know that many of the words we use every day actually have their roots in French? English is part of the Germanic language family, while French is a Romance language. At first glance, one would think that they don't have much in common, right? But this is not the case; French has influenced our language in many ways, including our vocabulary. Today, we are going to discover 10 common English words that have origins in the language of love. Allons-y!

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While denim has been a part of our daily lives for many, many years now, the story of how this word came to us is quite interesting.

"Denim" originally came from the French term Serge de Nîmes. Nîmes is a city in southern France, and serge refers to a type of fabric with a twilled weave. Thus, the term Serge de Nîmes was originally used to describe this particular fabric made in the French city.

But how did we go from Serge de Nîmes to "denim"? Well, when the fabric gained popularity in other countries, English speakers had trouble pronouncing the whole term, so it was gradually simplified, first to something like "serge deNîm" and finally to just "denim."

By the 19th century, the English term we know today was fully integrated into our language.

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"Honesty," Billy Joel's beautiful song, might not be the same without the French contribution to our language.

"Honesty" comes from the Old French word honesté, which refers to something noble, virtuous, or respectable. In turn, the French word derives from the Latin honestus, which was used to describe something honorable.

Between the 12th and 15th centuries, the Middle English took the term honesté from the French, retaining its meaning. However, by the 16th century, the English word had evolved into "honesty" and broadened its meaning. It came to represent not just honor and good morals but also truthfulness, sincerity, and genuine intentions.

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We have all given and received advice throughout our lives, but do you know where the word "advice" comes from?

The English word "advice" has quite a long history, originating from the Latin advisum, which meant "considered" or "deliberated." This term evolved into the Old French noun avis, meaning "opinion" or "point of view."

The Old French avis was borrowed into Middle English around the 13th century, and the expression at avis (meaning "in my opinion") emerged. Over time, it transformed into "advice." By the 16th century, its meaning had shifted, evolving from simply an opinion to a suggestion offered by someone else.

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Personal care and beauty have been an important issue for people since ancient times. A very clear example of this is the word "manicure."

What's interesting about this term is how little it has changed over time. The Latin words manus (hand) and cura (care) came together to give rise to manicura, which was later adapted into French as manucure.

Around the 17th century, the tradition of hand care became more refined in Europe, especially among the privileged classes, making the term more widely known. By the 19th century, "manicure" was already present in the English language, without changing its form and retaining its meaning to this day.

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Today, the word "table" has several meanings: it can refer to the piece of furniture we use for dining, the flat surface where we chop vegetables, or even more abstract concepts like organizing data into rows and columns.

But to get to all this, the word had a long journey, starting with Latin. The term tabula in Latin meant simply "a flat piece of wood," "board" or "plank."

Tabula passed into Old French as table, maintaining at first its original definition. By the 12th century, Middle English adopted the term "table," preserving its form while expanding its meaning.

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In ancient times, armies and soldiers were a central part of life, so it's no wonder that many of our military-related words have their origins there.

The Latin word arma meant "weapons," plural. It was this form of the word that passed into Old French as armé, an adjective meaning "armed," referring to a group of people armed for war. From armé, the noun armée arose, referring to the military force.

In the 13th century, armée passed into Middle English as armye, retaining its meaning. With the passage of time, the term evolved into "army."

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The exchange of goods and money has been part of human interactions for as long as history can remember, and this is evident in the evolution of the language.

Moneta was Latin for "coins." This term was adapted in different ways to the Romance languages. For example, Spanish hardly modified the form, resulting in the present Spanish word moneda. The case of Old French was a little different, but not by much.

Moneta evolved into Old French as moneie, which then transitioned into Middle English as moneye around the 13th century. By this time, the word had expanded its definition, referring not only to coins but also to currency in general. Eventually, modern English modified the pronunciation of moneye, which ended up with the current "money."

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Solidus was a Latin word that designated a specific type of gold coin used in the Empire. But what do coins have to do with soldiers?

As we already know, Latin evolved into Romance languages, and this word passed into Old French as soudee, which specifically designated a payment given to a soldier. Over time, the French word changed in both structure and definition. Soudee transitioned to soudier, which referred to a soldier who fought professionally in an army, meaning he was paid for his service.

Middle English took that term from French, and its spelling eventually changed to "soldier."

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The word "debut" appears in many contexts: sports, cinema, theater, television, literature, and more. While this might surprise many, it has a very ancient origin.

What's more interesting about this word is that its meaning has not changed much throughout history. In Latin, debutare already meant "to begin" or "to start."

The term evolved into Old French as début, where its connotation shifted to something closer to a first performance or the first time in a particular practice. By the 19th century, the word was already in English as we know it today.

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If you are a fan of meat (or etymology), you won't want to miss the journey that the word "beef" took to become part of our language.

Latin used the word bovem to refer to cattle. Over time, this term evolved and was adapted to Old French as boef, which varied in meaning to specifically denote the meat from cattle.

In the 12th century, Middle English took boef and adapted it as befe or beef, refining its definition to refer to cattle meat prepared for consumption. By the 14th century, the word was well-established in our language.

FROM FACT TO FICTION

10 Real People Who Inspired Famous Fictional Characters

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Does life imitate art more than art imitates life? We don’t know. But regardless of where you stand on Oscar Wilde’s famous conundrum, one thing is certain: many of the most beloved fictional characters in film and literature have been inspired by real people. From Sherlock Holmes to Miss Piggy, the influence of real-life personalities on fictional creations knows no bounds. Here, we explore 10 intriguing examples of characters who were molded after actual individuals!

Image: Clément Falize

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary detective, Sherlock Holmes was heavily inspired by Dr. Joseph Bell, a Scottish surgeon renowned for his sharp observational skills and deductive reasoning. Bell's knack for diagnosing patients based solely on observation laid the foundation for Holmes' exceptional investigative abilities.

Doyle, who had studied under Bell at the University of Edinburgh, was profoundly impacted by Bell's methods. In his autobiography, Doyle reminisced about his former teacher and speculated that "if he were a detective, he would surely reduce this fascinating but unorganized business to something nearer to an exact science."

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Margaret Mitchell's Southern Belle protagonist from Gone with the Wind was inspired by Mitchell's own ancestors, particularly her feisty great-grandmother.

Mitchell's family stories and the oral histories she grew up with shaped Scarlett's resilient and ambitious character, capturing the spirit of the American South during the Civil War and Reconstruction. She blended these anecdotes with her own observations of Southern society, crafting a unique but believable character loved for both her complexity and tenacity.

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The noble and principled lawyer Atticus Finch from Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird was modeled after her own father, Amasa Coleman Lee. Like Atticus, A.C. Lee was a lawyer who defended African American clients in racially charged cases in Alabama during the 1930s.

Harper Lee admired her father's sense of justice and moral integrity, qualities she infused into the character of Atticus Finch. Through Finch, Lee tackled themes of racial injustice and moral courage during a period when few dared to do so, making him a timeless literary hero in the process.

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The sophisticated and cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter, created by Thomas Harris in The Silence of the Lambs, was inspired by Mexican physician and convicted murderer Alfredo Ballí Treviño.

Ballí Treviño was known for his charm and intelligence, traits that Harris integrated into Lecter's chilling persona. Harris, a journalist at the time, covered Ballí Treviño's trial and drew upon his demeanor and intellect to shape Lecter, creating one of fiction's most captivating and terrifying villains.

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Johnny Depp's portrayal of the eccentric pirate Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean series was famously inspired by Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards.

Depp modeled Sparrow's mannerisms, speech patterns, and rock 'n' roll attitude after Richards, whom he admired for his rebellious spirit and iconic style. The character's swagger and unpredictable nature have made Sparrow a beloved figure in popular culture and an affectionate homage to the rock star.

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F. Scott Fitzgerald's mysterious and enigmatic millionaire Jay Gatsby was partially inspired by Max Gerlach, a notorious bootlegger during the Prohibition era. Gerlach's lavish parties and extravagant lifestyle in Long Island served as the backdrop for Gatsby's opulent world in The Great Gatsby.

Interestingly, Fitzgerald claimed that Gerlach was his neighbor at some point in time, and it would make sense for him to draw inspiration from his immediate surroundings to tackle the essence and moral complexities of the Roaring Twenties.

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Sylvester Stallone's iconic underdog boxer Rocky Balboa was inspired by Chuck Wepner, a journeyman boxer who famously went the distance with Muhammad Ali in 1975. Stallone claims that he was inspired by Wepner's determination, as well as his own struggles as an actor trying to break into Hollywood.

In any case, both the character and the film resonated deeply with audiences worldwide for their heartfelt portrayal of perseverance and the human spirit in the face of adversity.

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Although George Lucas never fully explained where he drew his inspiration from—and there may have been multiple individuals with similar characteristics—it is speculated that his iconic character, Indiana Jones, an adventurous archaeologist and professor, was significantly inspired by Roy Chapman Andrews.

Andrews was an American explorer, adventurer, and naturalist known for his daring expeditions across Asia, especially Mongolia, during the 1920s.

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Thought Popeye was just a stereotype of a sailor? Well, it turns out he was based on a real person. The spinach-loving, pipe-smoking comic strip and cartoon character created by Elzie Crisler Segar was inspired by Frank "Rocky" Fiegel.

Fiegel was a tough, strong-willed man from Segar's hometown of Chester, Illinois, known for his physical strength and willingness to fight to protect his friends. In homage to his friend, Segar based Popeye's demeanor, accent, and strong moral compass on Fiegel's persona.

Image: Matt Botsford

Miss Piggy, the glamorous and assertive Muppet diva from The Muppet Show, drew inspiration from singer and actress Peggy Lee. In fact, the iconic Muppet's full name was initially Miss Piggy Lee. Known for her sultry voice and charismatic stage presence, Lee influenced more than just Miss Piggy's name; her character pays homage to Lee's theatrical persona and romantic aspirations.

It should be noted that there was no disrespect intended; quite the contrary, and as Piggy's fame grew, the show’s creators decided they did not want to risk upsetting Peggy Lee, whom they greatly admired, and decided to shorten the name to Miss Piggy.