restaurant
/ˈrɛstərənt/
noun
Origin
French
restaurer — to restore
Overview
Meaning Now
- A place where people pay to sit and eat meals that are prepared and served on the premises.
Literal older meaning
that which restores
Language path
Latin → French → English
Earliest form
restaurant
Earliest period
18th century
Journey
The term originated in France in the 1760s for a highly concentrated, nourishing bouillon or broth intended to 'restore' the strength of health-compromised individuals. Following the French Revolution, the term was applied to the establishments that served these and other dishes to the public, eventually replacing the earlier term 'traiteur'.
Evolution
- Latin
restaurare
“to restore, rebuild”
- Old French
restaurer
“to restore (health)”
- 18th century French
restaurant
“a concentrated meat broth”
Served as a restorative food item.
- Post-Revolutionary France
restaurant
“an establishment serving restorative meals”
The name transferred from the broth to the place serving it.
- 19th century English
restaurant
“a public eating place”
Adopted into English from French usage.
Connections
Word parts
restaur-
root
restore
-ant
suffix
agentive or present participle marker
Related across languages
French
restaurant
Spanish
restaurante
restaurant
Italian
ristorante
restaurant
Explore next
Related to restaurant
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.