design
/dɪˈzaɪn/
noun
Origin
Latin
designare — to mark out, devise, choose, designate, appoint
Overview
Meaning Now
- A plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of an object or system before it is built or made.
- The art or process of conceiving and making such plans.
- Purpose, planning, or intention that exists or is thought to exist behind an action or fact.
Literal older meaning
to mark out
Language path
Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
design
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The term entered the English language in the 16th century, originally carrying strong connotations of intention or a 'scheme' or 'plot', which can still be observed in the term 'by design'. Its modern application to industrial and artistic aesthetics developed later, particularly during the Industrial Revolution.
Evolution
- Latin
designare
“to mark out, map out”
- Middle French
deseigner
“to signify, to designate”
- Middle English
designen
“to plan, to intend”
- Modern English
design
“artistic or structural plan”
Connections
Word parts
de-
prefix
completely, off, down
sign
root
to mark
Related across languages
French
dessiner
to draw
Italian
disegnare
to draw, to design
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Related to design
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.