collation

The story

1. Latin · derived fromcollatiō
2. Old French · derived fromcollation
3. Middle English · inherited fromcollacioun
4. English todaycollation

From Middle English collacioun, collation, from Old French collation, from Latin collatiō, from the participle stem of cōnferō (“to bring together”).

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. The act of bringing things together and comparing them; comparison.
• from 19th c. The act of collating pages or sheets of a book, or from printing etc.
• from 20th c. A collection, a gathering.
• 14th–17th c. A conference or consultation.
• from 13th c. The Collationes Patrum in Scetica Eremo Commorantium by John Cassian, an important ecclesiastical work. (Now usually with capital initial.)
• from 14th c. A reading held from the work mentioned above, as a regular service in Benedictine monasteries.
• from 14th c. The light meal taken by monks after the reading service mentioned above.
• from 16th c. Any light meal or snack.