return

The story

1. Medieval Latin · derived fromretornare“to turn back”
2. Old French · derived fromretourner
3. Anglo-Norman · derived fromreturner
4. Middle English · inherited fromreturnen
5. English todayreturn

From Middle English returnen, retornen, from Anglo-Norman returner, from Old French retourner, retorner, from Medieval Latin retornare (“to turn back”), from re- + tornare (“to turn”). By surface analysis, re- + turn. Compare beturn. Displaced native Old English eftċierran, literally "eft-char".