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Where does the word "clairvoyant" come from? It comes from French clair + voyant, and was adopted directly into English (1670s).
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Where does the word "clairvoyant" come from? It comes from French clair + voyant, and was adopted directly into English (1670s).
Clairvoyant’s story begins in French: clair + voyant meant “clear-sighted.” 'clear' plus 'seeing'. It reached English by 1670s as clairvoyant. First meant perceptive; the mesmerism craze of the 1840s gave it the psychic sense. Today, clairvoyant means having a supposed ability to perceive things beyond the senses.
- Stage 1 · French · medieval clair + voyant "clear-sighted", 'clear' plus 'seeing'.
- Stage 2 · English · 1670s clairvoyant "psychic", first meant perceptive; the mesmerism craze of the 1840s gave it the psychic sense.