Etymograph

English

award

Award comes from Middle English awarden, and goes back to Medieval Latin *exwardare.

  1. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500*exwardare1reconstructed
  2. Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400awarder1
  3. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500awarden1
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1697award1

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, English award
  2. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1697, Virgil, (please specify the book number): “To review / The wrongful sentence, and award a…”.

Lineage

  1. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500*exwardareWiktionary, English awardreconstructed
  2. Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400awarderWiktionary, English award
  3. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500awardenWiktionary, English award
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1697awardWiktionary, English award. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1697, Virgil, (please specify the book number): “To review / The wrongful sentence, and award a…”

A compound of ex ‘out’ + wardare

Proto-Indo-European *h₁eǵʰs ‘out’

Proto-Italic *eks

Latin ex ‘out’

Medieval Latin wardare

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Today it means

noun A judgment, sentence, or final decision. Specifically: The decision of arbitrators in a case submitted.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “award”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / Medieval Latin *exwardare / award