decapitate

Where does the word "decapitate" come from? It comes from Latin caput, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1600s).

Decapitate’s story begins in Latin: caput meant “head.” Head, combined with de- (away from). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as decapitare. To behead, from de- and caput. It reached English by 1600s as decapitate. Settled as the English word for cutting off someone's head. Today, decapitate means to cut off the head of a person or animal.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient caput "head", head, combined with de- (away from).
2. Stage 2 · Late Latin · medieval decapitare "to behead", to behead, from de- and caput.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s decapitate "to cut off someone's head", settled as the English word for cutting off someone's head.