admire

Where does the word "admire" come from? It comes from Latin admirari, passing through Old French before entering English (1590s).

Admire’s story begins in Latin: admirari meant “to wonder at.” 'ad-', at, plus 'mirari', to wonder; the root of 'miracle' and 'mirror'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as admirer. Used for astonishment before it meant approval. It reached English by 1590s as admire. First meant simply to be amazed, good or bad; it first appears around 1429 in the 'Mirour of Mans Saluacioune', an English translation of a Latin devotional work. Today, admire means to regard with respect or warm approval.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient admirari "to wonder at", 'ad-', at, plus 'mirari', to wonder; the root of 'miracle' and 'mirror'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval admirer "to marvel at", used for astonishment before it meant approval.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1590s admire "to regard with respect", first meant simply to be amazed, good or bad; it first appears around 1429 in the 'Mirour of Mans Saluacioune', an English translation of a Latin devotional work.