AboutCarol Pozefsky Expertise Etymology: The origins of English words and phrases.
Anchor/Reporter NBC and CBS Networks. News Director 3 Regional Radio Stations.
Question I understand the basic meaning/roots of the word, but I am curious as to when/how it was adopted by the gay community. Was it originally a legal term or was it invented or part of a longer phrase?
Answer
Hello, I hope you're having a fine week.
The word partner has a venerable history descending from the Latin 'partitionem' meaning portion or division. From it came the French parciner one that shares or has a part with another. The word partnership appeared in the mid 1500's and had the same meaning then as today.
Partner was adopted by the gay community four or five decades ago as a non-gender specific term designating a shared household or relationship.
The best to you always, Carol P.
