English word police comes from Middle French police (government, management, civil administration), which in turn derives from Latin politia (state, government), which itself comes from Ancient Greek πολιτεία (citizenship, administration; civil polity…) and ultimately from Ancient Greek πόλις (city). The term police first acquired its current meaning (a state power entrusted with law enforcement) in around 1810
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| πόλις | Ancient Greek (grc) | city |
| πολίτης | Ancient Greek (grc) | citizen |
| πολιτεία | Ancient Greek (grc) | citizenship, the relation in which a citizen stands to the state, the condition and rights of a citizen; the life and business of a statesman, government, administration; civil polity, the condition or constitution of a state |
| politia | Latin (lat) | (Late Latin) state, government. |
| police | Middle French (frm) | Governance; management. |
| police | English (en) | (now, rare, historical) The regulation of a given community or society; administration, law and order etc. [from 17th c.]. (obsolete) Communal living; civilization. [16th-19th c.]. (obsolete) Policy. [15th-19th c.]. (regional, chiefly, US, Caribbean, Scotland) A police officer. [from 19th c.]. A civil force granted the legal authority for law enforcement and maintaining public order. [from [...] |