The term “control” comes from the Old French word “controllier,” which means “to check” or “to regulate.” This is derived from the Medieval Latin “contrarotulare,” meaning “to check against a duplicate register,” composed of “contra-” (against) and “rotulus” (a roll or register).
1. Proto-Indo-European (PIE)
The PIE root “*rot-” means “wheel” or “to roll.”
2. Latin
From the PIE root, the Latin word “rotulus” developed, meaning “a roll” or “a register.” The prefix “contra-” means “against” or “opposite.”
3. Medieval Latin (c. 5th to 15th century CE)
The term “contrarotulare” was used in Medieval Latin to mean “to check against a roll or register,” combining “contra-” (against) and “rotulus” (a roll).
4. Old French (c. 9th to 14th century CE)
The Medieval Latin term “contrarotulare” evolved into Old French “controllier,” meaning “to check” or “to regulate.”
5. Middle English (c. 11th to 15th century CE)
The Old French “controllier” was adopted into Middle English as “countrollen” or “controlen,” meaning “to check” or “to regulate.”
6. Modern English (from 15th century CE to present)
The term “control” evolved into its current form and pronunciation, referring to the act of exercising authority or influence over something or someone, to direct or regulate.
The word “control” reflects the concept of regulating, directing, or exercising authority over something, ensuring that it functions according to certain rules or standards. It is widely used in various contexts, including management, engineering, psychology, and everyday life, to describe the processes of maintaining order, stability, and proper function.