space

The story

1. Latinspatium
2. Old Frenchespace
3. Anglo-Normanspace
4. Middle Englishspace
5. English todayspace

From Middle English space, from Anglo-Norman space, variant of espace, espas, et al.; and spaze, variant of espace, from Latin spatium, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)peh₂- (“to stretch, to pull”). Partially displaced native Old English rum, whence Modern English room.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 14ᵗʰc. The distance between objects.
• from 14ᵗʰc. A physical extent across two or three dimensions (sometimes for or to do something).
• from 17ᵗʰc. A physical extent in all directions, seen as an attribute of the universe (now usually considered as a part of space-time), or a mathematical model of this.
• from 17ᵗʰc. The near-vacuum in which planets, stars and other celestial objects are situated; the universe beyond the earth's atmosphere.
• from 20ᵗʰc. The physical and psychological area one needs within which to live or operate; personal freedom.
• from 14ᵗʰc. Free time; leisure, opportunity.
• from 14ᵗʰc. A specific (specified) period of time.
• from 15ᵗʰc. An undefined period of time (without qualifier, especially a short period); a while.