'Program' is Greek for 'pre-writing' — and the same root gave us 'grammar,' 'graffiti,' and 'glamour.'
A set of instructions enabling a computer to perform a task; a planned series of events or activities; a broadcast show.
From Late Latin 'programma' (a proclamation, an edict, a public notice), from Greek 'programma' (a written public notice posted for all to see), from 'prographein' (to write publicly, to post up a notice), a compound of 'pro-' (before, in front of, publicly) + 'graphein' (to write, to scratch, to inscribe). The Greek 'graphein' descends from PIE *gerbh- (to scratch, to carve), which produced Lithuanian 'grebti' (to rake), Greek 'graphos' (a writing tool, a stylus), German 'Kerbe' (a notch, a scratch), and the productive English suffix -graph (writing instrument or record) in telegraph, photograph, and autograph. A 'program' was originally something written up in advance and posted publicly — a schedule or announcement
'Program,' 'grammar,' 'graffiti,' and 'graphic' all descend from the same Greek root 'graphein' (to write, to scratch). A program is literally 'a pre-writing' — instructions written before execution. 'Graffiti' is 'scratchings' (Italian, from Greek). And 'glamour' is a Scottish corruption of 'grammar,' because in the Middle Ages, knowing how to read was considered a form of magic.