late 14c., notifien, "to make (something) known, to tell," from Old French notefiier "make known, inform, apprise" (13c.), from Latin notificare "to make known, notify," from Latin notus "known" (from PIE root *gno- "to know") + combining form of facere "make, do" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put"). Meaning "give notice to, inform by words or writing" is from mid-15c. Related: Notified; notifying; notifiable.