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Where does the word "cavity" come from? It comes from Late Latin cavitas, and was adopted directly into English (1540s).
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Where does the word "cavity" come from? It comes from Late Latin cavitas, and was adopted directly into English (1540s).
Cavity’s story begins in Late Latin: cavitas meant “hollowness.” From 'cavus', hollow. It reached English by 1540s as cavity. Dental 'cavities' date from the 1800s. Today, cavity means a hollow space.
- Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient cavitas "hollowness", from 'cavus', hollow.
- Stage 2 · English · 1540s cavity "hollow", dental 'cavities' date from the 1800s.