The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll Through The Hidden Connections Of The English Language - Plot & Excerpts
That’s because the Latin terminus meant boundary or limit, from which we get bus terminals, terms and conditions, fixed-term parliaments and indeed many terms for things (because a term has a limited meaning). From that you get the idea of terminating somebody’s employment. Legally speaking, you can do this in one of two ways: you can terminate without prejudice, meaning that you are open to the idea of re-employing the poor chap; or you can terminate with prejudice, meaning that you will never hire the scoundrel again. The latter is for employees who have done something awfully naughty and broken and betrayed your trust. The CIA employs agents. If you break the CIA’s trust and reveal their secrets to the Other Side, your employment will be terminated. Indeed, it will be terminated with prejudice. Indeed, the CIA often makes sure that nobody ever employs you again by the simple expedient of creeping up behind you and shooting you in the head. This they jokingly refer to as termination with extreme prejudice.
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