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Where does the word "celebrate" come from? It comes from Latin celebrare, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).
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Where does the word "celebrate" come from? It comes from Latin celebrare, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).
Celebrate’s story begins in Latin: celebrare meant “to frequent, honour.” From 'celeber', frequented, famous. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as celebrer. Used for the Mass. It reached English by 1400s as celebrate. 'celebrity' shares the root. Today, celebrate means to mark an occasion with festivity.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient celebrare "to frequent, honour", from 'celeber', frequented, famous.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval celebrer "to celebrate", used for the Mass.
- Stage 3 · English · 1400s celebrate "to perform a rite", 'celebrity' shares the root.