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Where does the word "commotion" come from? It comes from Latin commotio, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).
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Where does the word "commotion" come from? It comes from Latin commotio, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).
Commotion’s story begins in Latin: commotio meant “a moving together, a disturbance.” A moving together, a disturbance, from com- (together) and movere (to move). It reached English by 1500s as commotion. Settled as the English word for a state of confused and noisy disturbance. Today, commotion means a state of noisy and confused disturbance or excitement.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient commotio "a moving together, a disturbance", a moving together, a disturbance, from com- (together) and movere (to move).
- Stage 2 · English · 1500s commotion "a state of confused and noisy disturbance", settled as the English word for a state of confused and noisy disturbance.