circumvent

Where does the word "circumvent" come from? It comes from Latin circumvenire, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Circumvent’s story begins in Latin: circumvenire meant “to come around, to outwit.” To come around, to surround, to outwit, from circum- (around) and venire (to come). It reached English by 1500s as circumvent. Settled as the English word for finding a way around an obstacle or rule. Today, circumvent means to find a way around an obstacle, rule, or difficulty, often cleverly.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient circumvenire "to come around, to outwit", to come around, to surround, to outwit, from circum- (around) and venire (to come).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1500s circumvent "to find a way around an obstacle, rule, or difficulty", settled as the English word for finding a way around an obstacle or rule.