Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate
Tracing “”…
Where does the word "assemble" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin assimulare, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "assemble" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin assimulare, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Assemble’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: assimulare meant “to bring together.” 'ad-' plus 'simul', together. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as assembler. Used for gatherings of people. It reached English by 1200s as assemble. 'assembly line' dates from 1914. Today, assemble means to gather together; to fit parts together.
- Stage 1 · Vulgar Latin · ancient assimulare "to bring together", 'ad-' plus 'simul', together.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval assembler "to gather", used for gatherings of people.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s assemble "to gather", 'assembly line' dates from 1914.