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Origin and history of document

document(n.)

early 15c., "a doctrine;" late 15c., "teaching, instruction" (senses now obsolete), from Old French document (13c.) "lesson, written evidence" and directly from Latin documentum "example, proof, lesson," in Medieval Latin "official written instrument, authoritative paper," from docere "to show, teach, cause to know," originally "make to appear right," causative of decere "be seemly, fitting," from PIE root *dek- "to take, accept."

Meaning "written or printed paper that provides proof or evidence" is from early 18c., hence "anything bearing legible writing or inscription." Related: Documents.

document(v.)

1640s, "to teach with authority," a sense now obsolete; see document (n.). Meaning "to support by documentary evidence" is from 1711. Related: Documented; documenting.

also from 1640s

Entries linking to document

documentary(adj.)

1788, "pertaining to or derived from documents," from document (n.) + -ary. Meaning "factual, meant to provide a record of something" is by 1921, originally in reference to film, from French film documentaire (by 1919). The noun (short for documentary film) is attested by 1935.

documentation(n.)

1754, "admonition, instruction, teaching," a sense now obsolete, noun of action from document (v.) or else from Medieval Latin documentationem (nominative documentio) "a reminding," from Latin documentum "example, proof, lesson," in Medieval Latin "official written instrument, authoritative paper" (see document (n.)). Meaning "preparation or use of documentary evidence" is by 1888. Scientific meaning "a collection and classification of informational papers" is from 1927.

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manuscript
"book, paper, or other document written by hand with ink, pencil, etc.," as distinguished from anything printed, especially...earlier as an adjective, "written with the hand, handwritten, not printed" (1590s ), from Medieval Latin manuscriptum "document...
bull
"papal edict, highest authoritative document issued by or in the name of a pope," c. 1300, from Medieval Latin bulla "sealed...document" (source of Old French bulle, Italian bulla), originally the word for the seal itself, from Latin bulla "round...
forge
early 14c., "to counterfeit" (a letter, document, etc.), from Old French forgier "to forge, work (metal); shape, fashion;...Meaning "to counterfeit" (a letter, document, or other writing) is from early 14c.; literal meaning "to form (something)...
diploma
1640s, "state paper, official document," from Latin diploma (plural diplomata) "a state letter of recommendation," given...to persons travelling to the provinces, "a document drawn up by a magistrate," from Greek diploma "licence, chart," originally...
bill
[written statement] late 14c., "formal document; formal plea or charge (in a court of law); personal letter," from Anglo-French...bille, Anglo-Latin billa "a writing, a list, a seal," from Medieval Latin bulla "decree, seal, sealed document," in classical...
declaration
The meaning "proclamation, formal public statement" is from c. 1400; that of "document by which an announcement or assertion...one issued in that year by the British American colonies seems to be the first so called; though the phrase is not in the document...
seal
"design stamped on wax," especially an impressed figure attached to a document as evidence of authenticity, c. 1200, sel,...Extended senses are via the notion of a seal used to mark and close a document to insure its secrecy (c. 1300)....
sustain
late 13c., sustenen, transitive, "provide the necessities of life to;" by early 14c. as "give support to (an effort or cause); also in physical senses, "keep from falling or sinking, hold up or upright;" also "give assistance to; keep (a quarrel, etc.) going." It is from the stem
course
c. 1300, "onward movement, motion forward, a running in a prescribed direction or over a prescribed distance; path or distance prescribed for a race, a race-course" from Old French cors "course; run, running; flow of a river" (12c.), from Latin cursus "a running; a journey; direc
source
mid-14c., "support, base," from Old French sourse "a rising, beginning, fountainhead of a river or stream" (12c.), fem. noun taken from past participle of sourdre "to rise, spring up," from Latin surgere "to rise, arise, get up, mount up, ascend; attack," a contraction of surrige

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