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Where does the word "alibi" come from? It comes from Latin alibi, and was adopted directly into English (1700s).
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Where does the word "alibi" come from? It comes from Latin alibi, and was adopted directly into English (1700s).
Alibi’s story begins in Latin: alibi meant “elsewhere.” Literally elsewhere, at another place. It reached English by 1700s as alibi. Latin for 'elsewhere', used as a legal plea in English courts. Today, alibi means a claim or piece of evidence that a person was elsewhere when an act occurred.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient alibi "elsewhere", literally elsewhere, at another place.
- Stage 2 · English · 1700s alibi "a claim of being elsewhere when a crime occurred", Latin for 'elsewhere', used as a legal plea in English courts.