dates
|dates|
/deɪts/
(date)
specific day or engagement
Etymology
'date' (time meaning) originates from Latin, specifically the Medieval Latin word 'data' (the feminine past participle of 'dare', meaning 'given'), via Old French 'date'. 'Date' (fruit) originates from Latin 'dactylus', which comes from Greek 'dáktylos'.
'date' (time) changed from Medieval Latin 'data' to Old French 'date' and then into Middle English as 'date', becoming the modern English word 'date'. 'Date' (fruit) changed from Greek 'dáktylos' to Latin 'dactylus', passed into Old French as 'date', and then into Middle English as 'date'.
Initially, 'date' (time) meant 'given (day)' in Latin and came to mean a specific marked day or record of time in modern English. The fruit word originally referred to the 'finger' (Greek) because of the shape of the fruit and evolved into the modern meaning 'date (the fruit)'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of date: the sweet, oblong fruit of the date palm, often eaten dried.
She buys dates at the market.
Synonyms
Noun 2
plural of date: specific days on a calendar or important days/events.
My calendar shows several important dates this month.
Synonyms
Verb 1
third-person singular of 'date': to go out with someone romantically.
He dates several different people.
Synonyms
Verb 2
third-person singular of 'date': to mark or record the day of an event or the time of writing.
She dates all her letters.
Synonyms
Verb 3
third-person singular of 'date': to come from or be from a particular time (often used with 'from' or 'back').
This building dates from the 18th century.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2026/01/03 22:05