place

place · noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*pleth₂-“to spread”
2. Ancient Greek · derived fromπλατεῖα
3. Latin · derived fromplatēa“plaza, wide street”
4. Old French · derived fromplace“place, an open space”
5. Old English · inherited fromplæċe“place, an open space, street”
6. Middle English · inherited fromplace
7. English todayplace

From Middle English place, conflation of Old English plæċe (“place, an open space, street”) and Old French place (“place, an open space”), both from Latin platēa (“plaza, wide street”), from Ancient Greek πλατεῖα (plateîa), shortening of πλατεῖα ὁδός (plateîa hodós, “broad way”), from Proto-Indo-European *pleth₂- (“to spread”), extended form of *pleh₂- (“flat”). Displaced native Old English stōw, stede (partially), and -ern. Compare also English pleck (“plot of ground”), West Frisian plak (“place, spot, location”), Dutch plek (“place, spot, patch”). Doublet of piatza, piazza, platz, and plaza. In the etymological chain from Latin platēa, note Old French place, which has multiple descendants — including German Platz, itself with many descendants (e.g., Russian плац (plac)). Also note a more distant chain node Ancient Greek πλατύς (platús), whence English Plato and English plate (via Latin).

place · verb²

1. Middle English · inherited fromplacen
2. English todayplace

From Middle English placen, from the noun (see above).

Words from the same roots