Where does “algorithm” come from?

Algorithm comes from French algorithme, from Latin algorismus, from Arabic al-khwārizmī, originally denoting a person from Khwarezm.

algorithm (English): A collection of ordered steps that solve a...

Definitions

  1. A collection of ordered steps that solve a...

Ancestry of “algorithm”, step by step

algorithm traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle English algorisme

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishalgorisme—
2Anglo-Normanalgorisme—
3Medieval Latinalgorismusalgorithm
4Arabicالْخُوَارِزْمِيّ—

via Latin algorithmus

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinalgorithmusalgorithm

Words derived from “algorithm”

Every word from Arabic الْخُوَارِزْمِيّ →Every word from Medieval Latin algorismus →Every word from Anglo-Norman algorisme →