applaud

Where does the word "applaud" come from? It comes from Latin plaudere, passing through Latin before entering English (1400s).

Applaud’s story begins in Latin: plaudere meant “to clap.” To clap, to strike the hands together, combined with ad- (toward). Within Latin, it grew into applaudere by ancient. To clap in approval, from ad- and plaudere. It reached English by 1400s as applaud. Settled as the English word for clapping in approval, or expressing strong approval. Today, applaud means to show approval by clapping, or to express strong approval of something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient plaudere "to clap", to clap, to strike the hands together, combined with ad- (toward).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient applaudere "to clap in approval", to clap in approval, from ad- and plaudere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s applaud "to clap in approval, or to express strong approval", settled as the English word for clapping in approval, or expressing strong approval.