Etymology Map
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Adolescent

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a young person developing into an adult

Where does the word "adolescent" come from? It comes from Latin adolescens, adopted directly into English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
adolescens
Latin · ancient
"growing up"
present participle of 'adolescere', to grow up
2
Stage 2 of 2
adolescent
English · 1400s
"youth"
first recorded around 1440 in an English verse translation of Palladius's Latin farming manual; 'adult' comes from the past participle of the same verb
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Adolescent’s story begins in Latin: adolescens meant “growing up.” Present participle of 'adolescere', to grow up. It reached English by 1400s as adolescent. First recorded around 1440 in an English verse translation of Palladius's Latin farming manual; 'adult' comes from the past participle of the same verb. Today, adolescent means a young person developing into an adult.