Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate
Tracing “”…
Where does the word "clear" come from? It comes from Latin clarus, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "clear" come from? It comes from Latin clarus, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Clear’s story begins in Latin: clarus meant “bright, loud.” The root of 'clarify' and 'declare'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as cler. Used of light and sound. It reached English by 1200s as clear. 'all clear' dates from the 1800s. Today, clear means easy to see or understand; transparent.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient clarus "bright, loud", the root of 'clarify' and 'declare'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval cler "bright", used of light and sound.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s clear "bright", 'all clear' dates from the 1800s.