accumulate

Where does the word "accumulate" come from? It comes from Latin accumulare, and was adopted directly into English (1520s).

Accumulate’s story begins in Latin: accumulare meant “to heap up.” 'ad-' plus 'cumulus', heap. It reached English by 1520s as accumulate. 'cumulus' clouds share the root; the verb is first recorded around 1487 in a translation by the poet John Skelton. Today, accumulate means to gather together.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient accumulare "to heap up", 'ad-' plus 'cumulus', heap.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1520s accumulate "to heap up", 'cumulus' clouds share the root; the verb is first recorded around 1487 in a translation by the poet John Skelton.