the word "trove" has a fascinating journey from a verb to a noun. it originates from the anglo-norman legal term "treasure trove," which referred to precious metal found hidden with no evidence of its owner. the "trove" element comes from the old french verb "trover," meaning "to find," which itself likely derives from the late latin "tropare," meaning "to compose or invent," associated with finding a musical theme. by the late 19th century, english speakers reanalyzed the phrase and back-formed "trove" as a standalone noun. its meaning expanded from specifically buried treasure to any valuable or delightful collection discovered or assembled.

the word "trove" is a simplex noun. it is a back-formation from the anglo-norman legal phrase "treasure trove," where "trove" is from the old french "trover" (to find). the functional role is that of a noun representing the thing found.