congregate

Where does the word "congregate" come from? It comes from Latin grex, passing through Latin before entering English (1400s).

Congregate’s story begins in Latin: grex meant “flock, herd.” Flock, herd, combined with com- (together). Within Latin, it grew into congregare by ancient. To gather into a flock, from com- and grex. It reached English by 1400s as congregate. Settled as the English word for gathering together as a group. Today, congregate means to gather together in a group, especially for a shared purpose.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient grex "flock, herd", flock, herd, combined with com- (together).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient congregare "to gather into a flock", to gather into a flock, from com- and grex.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s congregate "to gather together as a group", settled as the English word for gathering together as a group.