Etymology
1. c.1300, from O.Fr.
issue "a way out, exit," from fem. pp. of
issir "to go out," from L.
exire, from
ex- "out" +
ire "go." Meaning "discharge of blood or other fluid from the body" is from 1526; sense of "offspring" is from 1377. Meaning "outcome of an action" is attested from 1382; legal sense of "point in question at the conclusion of the presentation by both parties in a suit" (1308 in Anglo-Fr.) led to transf. sense of "a point to be decided" (1836). Meaning "action of sending into publication or circulation" is from 1833. The verb meaning "to flow out" (c.1300) is from O.Fr.
issu, pp. of
issir; sense of "to send out authoritatively" is from 1601; that of "to supply (someone with something)" is from 1925.
2. From Middle English issue, from Old French issue (“an exit, a way out”), feminine past participle of issir (“to exit”), from Latin exeō (“go out, exit”), from prefix ex- (“out”) + eō (“go”).
3. The legal meaning originated from the concept of "the end or result of pleadings in a suit (by presenting the point to be determined by trial)," leading to the sense of "the controversy over facts in a trial" (early 14th century, Anglo-French). This later extended to mean "a point of contention between two parties" (early 15th century) and more generally, "an important point to be decided" (1836). Consequently, the verbal phrase take issue with emerged in 1797 (preceded by join issue in the 1690s), meaning "to adopt an affirmative or negative stance in a dispute with another." The expression to have issues, meaning "to have unresolved conflicts," dates to 1990. See: Latin '
exeō'.
Verbs referencing "issue"
Cebuano isyu.