herb

The story

1. Latin · derived fromherba
2. Old French · derived fromerbe
3. Middle English · inherited fromherbe
4. English todayherb

From Middle English herbe, erbe, from Old French erbe (French herbe), from Latin herba. Initial h was restored to the spelling in the 15th century on the basis of Latin, but it remained mute until the 19th century and still is for many speakers. Doublet of yerba.

Words from the same roots