methodmethod

Method comes from Middle French methode ‘method’, from Ancient Greek μέθοδος ‘following after, pursuit’, and ultimately from ὁδός ‘road’.

1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEὁδός¹hodós‘road’
2. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEμέθοδος¹méthodos‘following after’
3. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEmethodus¹
4. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600methode¹‘method’
5. Englishearliest quotation c. 1599–1602method¹

1. ¹ Wiktionary, English method
2. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: c. 1599–1602, William Shakespeare, The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: “Though this be madneſſe, / Yet there is Method…”.