coincide

Where does the word "coincide" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin coincidere, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Coincide’s story begins in Medieval Latin: coincidere meant “to fall together upon.” To fall together upon, from com- (together) and incidere (to fall upon). It reached English by 1600s as coincide. Settled as the English word for happening at the same time, or agreeing exactly. Today, coincide means to happen at the same time as something else, or to correspond exactly.

1. Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval coincidere "to fall together upon", to fall together upon, from com- (together) and incidere (to fall upon).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s coincide "to happen at the same time, or to agree exactly", settled as the English word for happening at the same time, or agreeing exactly.