Etymology Map
Back to all words

Assert

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to state confidently

Where does the word "assert" come from? It comes from Latin asserere, adopted directly into English (1600s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
asserere
Latin · ancient
"to claim, join to oneself"
'ad-' plus 'serere', to join
2
Stage 2 of 2
assert
English · 1600s
"to declare"
first meant to claim or free someone at law; 'assertion' is recorded earlier, from the 1400s
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Assert’s story begins in Latin: asserere meant “to claim, join to oneself.” 'ad-' plus 'serere', to join. It reached English by 1600s as assert. First meant to claim or free someone at law; 'assertion' is recorded earlier, from the 1400s. Today, assert means to state confidently.