purpose

purpose · noun¹

1. Latin · derived fromprōpōnō, prōpōnere
2. Latin · derived fromprō-“forth”
3. Old French · derived frompurposer“to propose”
4. Middle English · inherited frompurpos
5. English todaypurpose

From Middle English purpos, from Old French purposer (“to propose”) (with conjugation altered based on poser), from Latin prō- (“forth”) + pōnere (“place, put”), hence Latin prōpōnō, prōpōnere. By surface analysis, pur- + pose (“halt, pause, put, place”).

purpose · verb²

1. Old French · derived frompurposer“to propose”
2. Middle English · inherited frompurposen
3. English todaypurpose

From Middle English purposen, from Old French purposer (“to propose”).

Words from the same roots