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Where does the word "adult" come from? It comes from Latin adultus, and was adopted directly into English (1530s).
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Where does the word "adult" come from? It comes from Latin adultus, and was adopted directly into English (1530s).
Adult’s story begins in Latin: adultus meant “grown up.” Past participle of 'adolescere', to grow up, the root of 'adolescent'. It reached English by 1530s as adult. 'adult' as a euphemism for sexual content dates from the 1950s. Today, adult means a fully grown person.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient adultus "grown up", past participle of 'adolescere', to grow up, the root of 'adolescent'.
- Stage 2 · English · 1530s adult "grown up", 'adult' as a euphemism for sexual content dates from the 1950s.