scheme

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromσχῆμα“form, shape”
2. Medieval Latin · derived fromschēma“figure, form”
3. Middle English · inherited fromscheame
4. English todayscheme

From late Middle English scheame, from Medieval Latin schēma (“figure, form”), from Ancient Greek σχῆμα (skhêma, “form, shape”), from ἔχω (ékhō, “to hold”). Doublet of schema. Compare sketch.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• 16th–17th c. An artful deviation from the ordinary arrangement of words.
• from 17th c. A representation of the aspects of the celestial bodies for any moment or at a given event.
• from 18th c. A systematic plan of future action.
• from 20th c. A council housing estate.