Grains
/ɡreɪnz/noun
Small, hard seeds or fruits that are harvested for food.
Did you know?The word 'grain' comes from the Latin 'granum', which is linked to the notion of something 'gritty' or 'hard', often associated with the foundational element of sustenance in many cultures.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ǵr̥h₁én
“to grow, to produce, linked to the cultivation of crops.”
Latin
Latin
granum
“a seed or grain, referring to small hard seeds used for food.”
Old French
Old French
grain
“a grain or seed, borrowed directly from Latin.”
Middle English
Middle English
grein
“a grain or small seed, evolving from Old French usage.”
Modern English
English
grains
“the plural form referring to multiple seeds or cereals, solidifying its importance in diet.”