Where does “formal hall” come from?

formal hall (English) comes from English formal, from Middle English formel, from Old French formel, from Latin formālis, from French -ïsme, from Latin -isma, from Latin -ismus, from Ancient Greek -ισμός — Creates action/result nouns from verb stems.

formal hall (English): A formal meal held in a college hall, generally with a grace, waiting staff and a set menu with multiple courses; usually held once or twice per week

Definitions

  1. A formal meal held in a college hall, generally with a grace, waiting staff and a set menu with multiple courses; usually held once or twice per week

Ancestry of “formal hall”, step by step

formal hall traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English formal

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishformalBeing in accord with established forms; Official;...
2Middle Englishformel
3Old Frenchformel
4Latinformālisformal
5French-ïsme-ism, variant of -isme following vowels
6Latin-ismaAlternative form of -ismus; -ism
7Latin-ismus-ism
8Ancient Greek-ισμόςForms abstract nouns
9Ancient Greek-μόςForms abstract nouns
10Proto-Indo-European-mósCreates action/result nouns from verb stems

via English Hall

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishHallHall class, a class of steam locomotive used on...
2Middle Englishhallehall; Alternative form of hale; Alternative form...
3Old Englishhealla hall; residence; a large room forming part of a...
4Frankishhallularge room, hall; hall
5Finnishhaludesire; urge, itch
6Finnishhalatato hug, embrace; to want
7Proto-Germanichalōnąto call, appoint, summon; to fetch, get
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱelh₁-to warm up, to be hot; to warm up, be hot
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -mósEvery word from French -ïsmeEvery word from Ancient Greek -μός