correlate

Where does the word "correlate" come from? It comes from Latin referre, passing through New Latin before entering English (1560s).

Correlate’s story begins in Latin: referre meant “to bring back.” To bring back, with irregular past participle relatus, combined with com- (together). By medieval, the word had taken hold in New Latin as correlatus. Formed from com- (together) and relatus (brought back) for things mutually related. It reached English by 1560s as correlate. Settled as the English word for showing a mutual relationship between things. Today, correlate means to have a mutual relationship, or to show a connection between two things.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient referre "to bring back", to bring back, with irregular past participle relatus, combined with com- (together).
2. Stage 2 · New Latin · medieval correlatus "mutually related", formed from com- (together) and relatus (brought back) for things mutually related.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1560s correlate "to show a mutual relationship between things", settled as the English word for showing a mutual relationship between things.