attract

Where does the word "attract" come from? It comes from Latin attrahere, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Attract’s story begins in Latin: attrahere meant “to draw toward.” To draw toward, from ad- (toward) and trahere (to draw, to pull). It reached English by 1400s as attract. Settled as the English word for drawing something toward oneself. Today, attract means to draw someone or something toward oneself, by appeal or force.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient attrahere "to draw toward", to draw toward, from ad- (toward) and trahere (to draw, to pull).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s attract "to draw something or someone toward oneself", settled as the English word for drawing something toward oneself.