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Audacious

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means showing a willingness to take bold risks

Where does the word "audacious" come from? It comes from Latin audax, passing through French before entering English (1550s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
audax
Latin · ancient
"bold"
from 'audere', to dare
2
Stage 2 of 3
audacieux
French · 1500s
"bold"
French 'audacieux' was built on 'audace' (boldness); the negative sense 'shameless' appears in English in the 1590s
3
Stage 3 of 3
audacious
English · 1550s
"bold"
'audacity' followed
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Read the full story

Audacious’s story begins in Latin: audax meant “bold.” From 'audere', to dare. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as audacieux. French 'audacieux' was built on 'audace' (boldness); the negative sense 'shameless' appears in English in the 1590s. It reached English by 1550s as audacious. 'audacity' followed. Today, audacious means showing a willingness to take bold risks.