Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “story” come from?

story (Middle English) comes from Old French estorie, from Latin historia, from Ancient Greek ἱστορία, from Ancient Greek ἱστορέω, from Ancient Greek ἵστωρ, from Proto-Hellenic wístōr, from Proto-Indo-European wéydtōr, from Indo-European *weyd-.

story (Middle English): A level of a building; A line of paddles on a...

Definitions

  1. A level of a building; A line of paddles on a...

Ancestry of “story”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old FrenchestorieAlternative form of estoire
2Latinhistoriahistory; account; story
3Ancient Greekἱστορίαinquiry, examination, systematic observation,...
4Ancient Greekἱστορέωto inquire, ask; to examine, observe; to record,...
5Ancient Greekἵστωρone who knows law and right, judge; witness; a...
6Proto-Hellenicwístōr—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwéydtōrone who has seen, one who knows
8Indo-European*weyd-—

Words derived from “story”

  • storey
  • overstorey
  • midstorey
  • multi-storey
Every word from Indo-European *weyd- →