endorse

The story

1. Medieval Latin · derived fromindorsare
2. Latin · derived fromdossum
3. Old French · derived fromendosser“to put on the back”
4. Middle English · inherited fromendosse
5. Medieval Latin · derived fromindorsare
6. English todayendorse

Alteration influenced by Medieval Latin indorsare of Middle English endosse, from Old French endosser (“to put on the back”), from Latin dossum, alternative form of dorsum (“back”), from which also dorsal (“of the back”). That is, the ‘r’ was dropped in Latin dossum, which developed into Old French and then Middle English endosse, and then the ‘r’ was re-introduced into English via the Medieval Latin indorsare, which had retained the ‘r’. Note that the alternative spelling indorse also uses the initial ‘i’ from Latin (in-, rather than en-), but this form is now rare.

Words from the same roots