Origin and history of word

"sound or combination of sounds in a language as the sign of a conception," also the words or printed characters which represent it; Old English word "speech, talk, utterance, sentence, statement, news, report, word," from Proto-Germanic *wurda-.

This is reconstructed (Watkins) to be from PIE *were- (3) "speak, say" (see verb). Germanic cognates include Old Saxon, Old Frisian word, Dutch woord, Old High German, German wort, Old Norse orð, Gothic waurd.

The meaning "promise" was in Old English, as was the theological sense of "Holy Scripture, God’s message, Christian doctrine." To take (one) at (one's) word is by 1530s.

In the plural, the meaning "verbal altercation, exchanged utterances expressive of anger" (as in have words with) is from mid-15c.; to have strong words is from late 13c.

A word to the wise is from Latin verbum sapienti satis est "a word to the wise is enough." In a word "briefly" is by 1590s. Word of mouth "spoken words, oral communication" (as distinguished from written words) is by 1550s. In psychology word-association is by 1910. Word-wrap is from 1977.

It is dangerous to leave written that which is badly written. A chance word, upon paper, may destroy the world. Watch carefully and erase, while the power is still yours, I say to myself, for all that is put down, once it escapes, may rot its way into a thousand minds, the corn become a black smut, and all libraries, of necessity, be burned to the ground as a consequence. [William Carlos Williams, "Paterson"]

c. 1200, worden, "to utter, speak, converse;" 1610s, "put into words, express in words;" from word (n.). Related: Worded; wording.