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propose

Etymology and origin of the English word propose

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1340
Borrowed from
Old French proposer
Ultimate origin
Latin (proponere)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
English propose
English proposal

Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /prəˈpəʊz/, US /prəˈpoʊz/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Old French proposer (“to propose, suggest”) (12th century),[2][3][4] from pro-, forth, and poser, to put, place (see pose),[2][3] a French formation replacing Latin prōpōnere, to put forward, influenced by its perfect stem prōpos-.[2][5][6] Latin prōpōnere also gave obsolete English propone, which coexisted for a time with propose, and propound.[2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

To put forward a scheme or form an intention: 1340, in the Ayenbite of Inwyt.[2] The OED's verb quotations begin in about 1430.[7]

Semantic evolution

To put forward for consideration is from before 1398, in Trevisa.[2] To set before the mind as something expected is from 1588.[7] The sense to make an offer of marriage is attested by 1764.[3] Proposal is from 1653,[2] and proposition from about 1340.[2]

Timeline

  • 1340 – to form an intention.[2]
  • before 1398 – to put forward for consideration.[2]
  • 1653 – proposal.[2]
  • 1764 – to propose marriage.[3]

Modern meaning

Verb

  1. To put forward a plan or idea for consideration; to suggest.
  2. To intend: I propose to leave now.
  3. To nominate someone for a position.
  4. To offer a toast.
  5. To make an offer of marriage.

Word family

  • proposer
  • proposable
  • repropose
  • unproposing
  • proposal

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Derived terms

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Propose.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/propose. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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