The word pamphlet comes from Pamphilet, from a Latin love poem that was popular in the 12th century. “Pamphilus,” the original Latin title, means “loved by all.” When the printing press came along in the 15th century, pamphlets became a good way to publicize your ideas — they were relatively cheap and you could print lots of them. They’re still used in political campaigns, and sometimes armies distribute pamphlets when they’re trying to communicate with people across a wide area.