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Today it means

circulate

to move continuously around

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

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

Circulate’s story begins in Latin: circulari meant “to form a circle.” From 'circulus', small circle. It reached English by 1400s as circulate. 'blood circulation' was described by William Harvey in 1628. Today, circulate means to move continuously around.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient circulari "to form a circle", from 'circulus', small circle.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s circulate "to move in a circle", 'blood circulation' was described by William Harvey in 1628.

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