view
/vjuː/
noun
Origin
Latin
videre — to see
Overview
Meaning Now
- The ability to see something or be seen from a particular place.
- A particular way of considering or regarding a matter; an attitude or opinion.
- A sight or prospect, especially of beautiful or natural scenery.
Literal older meaning
a seeing, a sight
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
veue
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The word entered English following the Norman Conquest, reflecting the strong influence of French legal and administrative terminology on the English language during the Middle Ages.
Evolution
- Proto-Indo-European
*weid-
“to see, to know”
- Latin
videre
“to see”
- Vulgar Latin
*viduta
“a seeing, sight”
past participle used as a noun
- Old French
veue
“sight, view, inspection”
- Middle English
vewe
“a sight, a look”
- English
view
“the act of seeing, a scene, an opinion”
Connections
Word parts
view
root
to see
Related across languages
French
vue
sight, view
Spanish
vista
sight, view
Italian
vista
sight, view
Explore next
Related to view
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.