Etymology Map
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Commemorate

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to recall and honour in a ceremony

Where does the word "commemorate" come from? It comes from Latin commemorare, adopted directly into English (1590s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
commemorare
Latin · ancient
"to call to mind"
'com-' plus 'memorare', to remember
2
Stage 2 of 2
commemorate
English · 1590s
"to remember publicly"
commemorative stamps date from the 1800s
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Read the full story

Commemorate’s story begins in Latin: commemorare meant “to call to mind.” 'com-' plus 'memorare', to remember. It reached English by 1590s as commemorate. Commemorative stamps date from the 1800s. Today, commemorate means to recall and honour in a ceremony.