Etymology Map
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Accumulate

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to gather together

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

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

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.