late 15c., "to settle," from Middle French resider (15c.) and directly from Latin residere "sit down, settle; remain behind, rest, linger; be left," from re- "back, again" (see re-) + sedere "to sit," from PIE root *sed- (1) "to sit." Meaning "to dwell permanently" first attested 1570s. Related: Resided; residing. Also from the French word are Dutch resideren, German residiren.