conceal

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

Conceal’s story begins in Latin: concelare meant “to hide.” 'com-' plus 'celare', to hide. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as conceler. Latin 'celare', to hide, comes from the same root as English 'hell' and 'hull'; 'conceal' displaced Old English 'deagan'. It reached English by 1300s as conceal. 'concealed carry' is 1900s American law. Today, conceal means to keep from sight.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient concelare "to hide", 'com-' plus 'celare', to hide.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval conceler "to hide", Latin 'celare', to hide, comes from the same root as English 'hell' and 'hull'; 'conceal' displaced Old English 'deagan'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s conceal "to hide", 'concealed carry' is 1900s American law.