Journey

What does it mean?

Travelling from one place to another, usually by land, often far away
How do we use it? If you are going on a long car journey, make sure the vehicle's in good condition. Word quiz What do you think was happening in the world when "journey" first became a part of the English language?

A. Marco Polo was beginning his famous journey from Europe to Asia.
B. Columbus was embarking on his journey that would lead to the New World.
C. Lewis and Clark were preparing for their journey across North America.
D. The astronauts of Apollo 11 were blasting off on their journey to the moon.

Key [A]
"Journey" made the trip from French to English in the 13th century, the same century during which Marco Polo made his famous trip to China. "Journey" comes from the Old French word "journee," meaning "day's journey." The English word also originally had the meaning of "a distance that can be traveled in a day," which, during the Middle Ages, usually figured as twenty miles. If you travel back through the history of "journey," the connection with "day" becomes clear. The French "journee" developed from the French word "jour," meaning "day." "Jour" traces back to Latin "diurnus," meaning "of the day." "Diurnus" comes from "dies," the Latin word for "day."