Parliament
/ˈpɑːr.lə.mənt/noun
A legislative assembly of representatives, especially in the UK and other parliamentary systems.
Did you know?The word comes from a medieval French term for a formal discussion or conference, reminding us that political power was once imagined as something created by speech itself.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰer-
“to speak, say”
Latin
Latin
parabolāre
“to talk, converse”
Old French
Old French
parlement
“a discussion, conference, or formal meeting”
Middle English
English
parlement
“a formal deliberative assembly”
Modern English
English
parliament
“the supreme legislative body in some countries”