Where does “parlance” come from?
Parlance comes from Middle English parlaunce, from Old French parlaunce, derived from the Old French suffix -ance added to Old French parler, ultimately from Latin parabola, meaning comparison or parable, from Ancient Greek παραβολή, from παρά and βάλλω meaning to throw.
parlance (English): A certain way of speaking, of using words,...
Definitions
- A certain way of speaking, of using words,...
Ancestry of “parlance”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | parlaunce | — |
| 2 | Anglo-Norman | parlance | discussion; debate |
| 3 | Old French | parler | to speak; to talk |
| 4 | Latin | parabolō | to make clear by metaphors |
| 5 | Latin | parabola | A comparison, illustration, likeness; An... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | παραβολή | a placing of two things side by side,... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | παραβάλλω | to compare; to set side by side; I set side by... |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | πᾰρᾰ- | near; next to; by, near |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | παρά | |
| 10 | Latin | verēdus | A fast or light breed of horse; courier's horse; hunter |
| 11 | Gaulish | werēdos | horse |
| 12 | Proto-Celtic | *uɸoreidos | horse |