A sequence of actions regularly followed; a fixed program of activities; ordinary or standard procedure.
From French 'routine' meaning 'usual course,' derived from 'route' (road or way). The concept was originally about following a well-traveled path or road - the same route taken repeatedly. It entered English in the 1670s from military usage, where soldiers would follow established routes and procedures. The meaning expanded from 'traveled path' to any regularly repeated sequence of actions.
Your daily routine is literally your personal 'route' through life - the word comes from the French idea of taking the same road over and over! French military strategists used 'routine' to describe the predictable paths that armies would take, making it easy to anticipate their movements, which is why 'routine' can sometimes sound boring or predictable.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.