join
/dʒɔɪn/
verb
Origin
Latin
iungere — to yoke, to join, to unite
Overview
Meaning Now
- To connect or fasten things together; to bring into contact.
- To become a member of an organization or group.
- To participate or take part in an activity with others.
Literal older meaning
to yoke, to connect
Language path
Proto-Indo-European → Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
joinen
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The word entered the English language following the Norman Conquest, reflecting the heavy influence of Old French legal and administrative vocabulary on Middle English. It stems from the same PIE root *yeug- that gave us 'yoke', 'yoga', and 'conjugate'.
Evolution
- Proto-Indo-European
*yeug-
“to join”
- Latin
iungere
“to yoke or bind together”
- Old French
joindre
“to connect, to join”
- Middle English
joinen
“to unite, to attach”
- Modern English
join
“to connect, to become a member”
Connections
Word parts
join
root
to connect
Related across languages
Latin
iugum
yoke
Sanskrit
yoga
union
French
joindre
to join
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.