Where does “word processing” come from?

word processing (English) comes from English processing, from English process, from English procession, from Middle English processioun, from Old French pourciession, from Latin processio, from Latin -tiō, from Latin dissertātiō — small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble.

word processing (English): The creation, input, editing and formatting of documents and other text using software on a computer

Definitions

  1. The creation, input, editing and formatting of documents and other text using software on a computer

Ancestry of “word processing”, step by step

word processing traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via English processing

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishprocessingThe action of the verb "to process"; The act of...
2EnglishprocessA series of events which produce a result; A set...
3EnglishprocessionThe act of progressing or proceeding; A group of...
4Middle Englishprocessioun
5Old Frenchpourciessionprocession
6Latinprocessioadvance; procession
7Latin-tiōtion, -ation, -ing
8Latindissertātiō(spoken) dissertation, discourse, disquisition
9Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
10Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
11Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
12Latincalceusshoe
13Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
14Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

via English Word

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishWordScripture; The Bible; The creative word of God;...
2EnglishworthHaving a value of; proper to be exchanged for;...
3Middle Englishworthto become
4Old Englishweorþworth, deserving; honoured, esteemed; worth,...
5Proto-Germanicwerþazworthy, valuable
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwert-to turn, to rotate
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

via English word process

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishword process
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξEvery word from Latin -tiōEvery word from Latin dis-