From Latin 'valere' (to be strong, to be worth) — equating worth with strength, kin to 'valid' and 'valor.'
The regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something; also, the monetary worth of something.
From Old French 'value' (worth, price, valour), the feminine past participle of 'valoir' (to be worth, to be strong, to avail), from Latin 'valēre' (to be strong, to be well, to be worth), from PIE *walh₂- (to be strong, to have power). The PIE root *walh₂- is attested in Latin 'valēre' (be well — the source of 'vale,' farewell), 'validus' (strong), 'valētūdō' (state of health), and in Germanic: Old English 'wealdan' (to have power over — whence 'wield'), Gothic 'waldan' (to rule), Old High German 'waltan' (to govern). The Celtic branch gives Welsh 'gallu' (to be able, power). In Medieval Latin 'valēre' generated 'valor' (courage
When Romans parted, they said 'valē' — literally 'be strong,' the imperative of 'valēre.' It was both a farewell and a wish for well-being. The same verb that meant 'be strong' also meant 'be worth' — because in the Roman mind, what was strong was what had force, and what had force was what was worth something. Strength was value.
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