Etymograph

English

esteem

Esteem comes from Middle French estimer ‘to think’, from Latin aestimō ‘to determine the value of something’, and perhaps ultimately from Old Latin aestumō.

  1. Old Latinc. 700–75 BCEaestumō1uncertain
  2. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaestimō1‘to determine the value of something’
  3. Old Frenchc. 842–1400estimer1‘to think’
  4. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600estimer2‘to think’
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1535esteem2

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, Middle French estimer
  2. 2 Wiktionary, English esteem
  3. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1535, Edmund Bonner: “Thou shouldest (gentle reader) esteem his censure and authority…”.

Lineage

  1. Old Latinc. 700–75 BCEaestumōWiktionary, Middle French estimeruncertain
  2. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaestimōWiktionary, Middle French estimer‘to determine the value of something’
  3. Old Frenchc. 842–1400estimerWiktionary, Middle French estimer‘to think’
  4. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600estimerWiktionary, English esteem‘to think’
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1535esteemWiktionary, English esteem. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1535, Edmund Bonner: “Thou shouldest (gentle reader) esteem his censure and authority…”

The story

First at end of 16th century; borrowed from Middle French estimer, borrowed from Latin aestimō.

Full etymology on Wiktionary

Linked words

through Old Latin aestumō

inestimable, estimable, 1 more

through Latin aestimō ‘to determine the value of something’

estimate, estimation, estimator, 1 more

Today it means

noun Assessment, estimation, or regard; especially; favourable estimation or regard.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “esteem”; the older steps come from the Wiktionary entry for Middle French estimer. 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 / Old Latin aestumō / esteem

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