When you hear 'closed' are you hearing English or Latin?

'Closed' is a word borrowed from Latin 'claudare'. The word entered the English language some time around the 13th century.

closed [adjective] [13th century]

• not open
• enclosed
• composed entirely of closed tubes or vessels
• forming a self-contained unit allowing no additions

Meaning: to move so as to bar passage through something close the gate; to block against entry or passage close a street; to deny access to the city closed the beach.

Etymology: Middle English; from Anglo-French clos-; stem of clore; from Latin claudere to shut; close; perhaps akin to Greek kleiein to close clavicle.

Topics: Society:Culture.

Origin: From French to Latin to English.

note: Middle English: from Old French clos- stem of clore from Latin claudere ‘to shut’.

See 'closed' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Latin.

See more loan words from 1200s.