Etymology Map
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Concrete

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a building material; real and definite

Where does the word "concrete" come from? It comes from Latin concretus, adopted directly into English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
concretus
Latin · ancient
"grown together"
past participle of 'concrescere', to grow together
2
Stage 2 of 2
concrete
English · 1400s
"solid"
the building material was named in the 1830s
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Concrete’s story begins in Latin: concretus meant “grown together.” Past participle of 'concrescere', to grow together. It reached English by 1400s as concrete. The building material was named in the 1830s. Today, concrete means a building material; real and definite.