acclaim

Where does the word "acclaim" come from? It comes from Latin acclamare, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Acclaim’s story begins in Latin: acclamare meant “to shout approval toward.” To shout approval toward someone, from ad- (toward) and clamare (to shout). It reached English by 1400s as acclaim. Settled as the English word for praising someone publicly and enthusiastically. Today, acclaim means to praise someone or something publicly and enthusiastically.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient acclamare "to shout approval toward", to shout approval toward someone, from ad- (toward) and clamare (to shout).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s acclaim "to praise someone publicly and enthusiastically", settled as the English word for praising someone publicly and enthusiastically.