sojourn (v.)
c. 1300, sojournen, "stay temporarily, dwell for a time; visit as a temporary resident;" also "reside permanently, dwell;" from Old French sojorner "stay or dwell for a time," from Vulgar Latin *subdiurnare "to spend the day" (source also of Italian soggiornare). This is a compound of Latin sub- "under, until" (see sub-) + diurnare "to last long," from diurnus "of a day," from diurnum "day" (from PIE root *dyeu- "to shine"). Modern French séjourner shows vowel dissimilation. Related: Sojourned; sojourning.
sojourn (n.)
"a temporary stay in a place, a visit," mid-13c., sojourne, from Anglo-French sojorn, sujurn, variants of Old French sejorn, from sejorner "stay or dwell for a time" (see sojourn (v.)). In Middle English and Old French sometimes also sojour. Figurative use is by 1804, often in the language of faith, in reference to the soul's time on earth.
updated on March 02, 2023
