clarify

Where does the word "clarify" come from? It comes from Latin clarus, passing through Late Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

Clarify’s story begins in Latin: clarus meant “clear, bright.” Clear, bright, combined with facere (to make). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as clarificare. Used by Christian writers of the 'glorification' of Christ. From there it passed into Old French as clarifier by medieval. Carried into French for making something easier to understand. It reached English by 1300s as clarify. Settled as the English word for making something clearer or easier to understand. Today, clarify means to make something clearer or easier to understand.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient clarus "clear, bright", clear, bright, combined with facere (to make).
2. Stage 2 · Late Latin · medieval clarificare "to make clear", used by Christian writers of the 'glorification' of Christ.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval clarifier "to make something easier to understand", carried into French for making something easier to understand.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s clarify "to make something clearer or easier to understand", settled as the English word for making something clearer or easier to understand.