Data
/ˈdeɪ.tə/noun
Facts and statistics collected for reference or analysis.
Did you know?The term 'data' originally meant 'something given', linking it to the idea of gifts or offerings in ancient practices.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
datum
“Something given or granted.”
Late Latin
Late Latin
data
“The plural form of datum, emphasizing multiple pieces of information.”
17th Century
English
data
“Adopted as a term in English, used mostly in philosophical contexts to mean facts.”
19th Century
English
data
“Became widely used in scientific and statistical contexts, emphasizing empirical evidence.”
Modern English
English
data
“Now commonly refers to digital information in computing and analysis.”