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Today it means

apparatus

equipment for a purpose

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Where does the word "apparatus" come from? It comes from Latin apparatus, and was adopted directly into English (1620s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "apparatus" come from? It comes from Latin apparatus, and was adopted directly into English (1620s).

Apparatus’s story begins in Latin: apparatus meant “preparation.” From 'apparare', to prepare. It reached English by 1620s as apparatus. 'state apparatus' dates from the 1900s. Today, apparatus means equipment for a purpose.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient apparatus "preparation", from 'apparare', to prepare.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1620s apparatus "equipment", 'state apparatus' dates from the 1900s.

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