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sojourn

Etymology and origin of the English word sojourn

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈsɒd͡ʒən/, /ˈsɒd͡ʒɜːn/ (UK); /ˈsoʊd͡ʒɚn/, /soʊˈd͡ʒɝn/ (US)[1]

Etymology

The verb is inherited from Middle English sojournen,[2][3][4] borrowed from Old French sojorner (“to stay or dwell for a time”),[2][3][4][5] also Anglo-French sujurner,[6] from Vulgar Latin *subdiurnāre (“to spend the day”),[2][3][4][6][5] from Latin sub- (“under, until, during”) + diurnum (“day”).[2][3][4][6] Late Latin diurnum is from diurnus “of a day”, from diēs “day”.[2][4] Modern French séjourner shows a dissimilated vowel, while English keeps the fuller first syllable, as in succour.[4]

The noun is borrowed from Anglo-Norman sujurn, Old French sojorn, from the verb.[3][4][6][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

As a noun, a temporary stay in a place (c. 1250);[7][4][3] as a verb, to stay for a time, to reside temporarily (c. 1290).[7][4][3]

Semantic evolution

In Middle English the verb could also mean to reside permanently,[4] to tarry or delay (1377),[7] to lodge or quarter horses (1390),[7] and to be a lodger in another's house (1573), all now obsolete.[7] The noun also meant a delay or digression (c. 1330) and a place of temporary stay (c. 1350).[7] Figurative use, often in the language of faith for the soul's time on earth, is found by 1804.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 1250 – noun, a temporary stay.[7]
  • c. 1290 – verb, to stay for a time.[7]
  • c. 1350 – a place of temporary stay.[7]
  • 1390 – to lodge; to quarter (horses) (obsolete).[7]
  • 1804 – figuratively, life on earth.[4]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A temporary stay; a brief period of residence.

Verb

  1. To stay for a time in a place; to live temporarily, especially as a guest or lodger.

Word family

  • sojourner
  • journal
  • journey
  • diurnal
  • adjourn
  • day

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Sojourn.” Etymologically, 11 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/sojourn. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·