Category
/ˈkæt.ə.ɡɔːr.i/noun
A class or division of people or things sharing common characteristics.
Did you know?In its earliest Greek form, katēgoria could mean an accusation in court, so the modern idea of “putting things into categories” comes from a word tied to formal charges and public judgment.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
katēgoria
“an accusation, a charge; later, a predication or category in logic”
Classical Greek
Greek
katēgorein
“to accuse publicly, speak against”
Ancient Greek
Greek
kata- + agoreuein
“down, against + to speak in the assembly”
Late Latin
Latin
categoria
“a logical class or predication”
Late Middle English
English
categorie
“a logical class or genus”
Modern English
English
category
“a class or division of things sharing common features”
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