The origins of social media and SEO

A very specific lexicon has formed around search engine optimisation and social media. But where did all these words originate from?

Thanks to Etymology Online for providing many of these definitions.

Engage

Early 15c., "to pledge," from M.Fr. engagier, from O.Fr. en gage "under pledge," from en "make" + gage "pledge.

Follower

O.E. folgere "retainer, servant, disciple; successor."

Brand

Meaning of "identifying mark made by a hot iron" (1550s).

Awareness

Late O.E., gewær, "wary, cautious."

Tweeter

"Loudspeaker for high frequencies," 1934, agent noun from tweet.

Fan

"Devotee," 1889, Amer.Eng., originally of baseball enthusiasts, probably a shortening of fanatic, but may be influenced by the fancy, a collective term for followers of a certain hobby or sport (especially boxing).

Mention

c.1300, from O.Fr. mencion "call to mind," from L. mentionem (nom. mentio) "a calling to mind, a speaking of, mention."

Group

1690s, originally an art criticism term, "assemblage of figures or objects in a painting or design," from Fr. groupe "cluster, group."

Friend

O.E. freond, prp. of freogan "to love, to favor," from P.Gmc. *frijojanan "to love."

Search engine optimisation

Search

Early 14c., from O.Fr. cerchier "to search," from L. circare "go about, wander, traverse."

Engine

c.1300, Fom O.Fr. engin "skill, cleverness," also "trick, deceit, stratagem; war machine" (12c.), from L. ingenium "inborn qualities, talent".

Optimise

1844, "to act as an optimist," back formation from optimist. Meaning "to make the most of" is first recorded 1857.

Link

Mid-15c., "one of a series of rings or loops which form a chain," probably from O.N. *hlenkr (cf. O.Swed. lænker "chain, link," Norw. lenke, Dan. lænke).

Analytics

C.1600, from M.L. analyticus, from Gk. analytikos "analytical," from analytos "dissolved."

Digital

1650s, "pertaining to fingers," from L. digitalis, from digitus. Meaning "using numerical digits" is from 1938, especially of computers after c.1945; in reference to recording or broadcasting, from 1960.

Marketing

1560s, "buying and selling," prp. adj. from market.

Advertise

Early 15c. "to take notice of," from M.Fr. advertiss-, prp. stem of a(d)vertir "to warn" (12c.), from L. advertere "turn toward," from ad- "toward" (see ad-) + vertere "to turn".