Function
/ˈfʌŋk.ʃən/noun
A purpose, role, or activity performed by something or someone.
Did you know?Function comes through Latin functio, from fungi meaning “to perform, execute, or discharge a duty,” which is why related words like defunct and functionally all orbit the idea of something being done or lived out.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dheugh-
“to be fit, be of use, perform effectively”
Latin
Latin
fungi
“to perform, execute, discharge, fulfill”
Latin
Latin
functio
“performance, execution, discharge of a duty”
Old French
Old French
fonction
“performance, office, duty”
Middle English
English
function
“performance of duty or office”
Modern English
English
function
“a purpose, role, or activity performed by something or someone”