The word spice originated in Middle English which came from the Old French words espece, espis(c)e, and espis(c)e. According to the Middle English Dictionary, the Old French words came from Anglo-Frenchspece; according to Merriam Webster, the Old-French words came from Anglo-French espece, and espis. Both publications agree that the Anglo-French words derived from Latinspecies. Middle Englishspice had its first known use as a noun in the 13th century.