word

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A single unit of language that has meaning and can be spoken or written.

   Words are the blocks from which sentences are made.

2. 2
   noun

   A short statement or thing that is said.

   I didn't say a word about it to anyone.

3. 3
   noun

   A serious promise.

   I gave you my word, and I will keep it.

4. 4
   noun

   News or information about something.

   What's the word on the new phone?

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Word has been part of English since Old English and is ultimately related to Latin verbum “word.” The Latin term also gave English verb and verbal and contributed to proverb, whose pro- element has the sense “put forth.”

From Middle English word, from Old English word, from Proto-West Germanic *word, from Proto-Germanic *wurdą (“word”), from Proto-Indo-European *werdʰh₁om (“word”), from *werh₁- (“to say, speak”). Doublet of verb, verve, and vort; further related to vrata. Cognates Cognate with Scots wird (“word”), North Frisian uurd, Uurt, wurd, wårde, wür (“word”), Saterland Frisian Woud, Wud (“word”), West Frisian wurd (“word”), Alemannic German wort, wourd, wuart, wòrt, wört (“word”), Bavarian boart, bort, bört, Wurt (“word”), Cimbrian bóart, bort (“word”), Dutch woord (“word”), German Wort (“word”), German…

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External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
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