declare

Where does the word "declare" come from? It comes from Latin declarare, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Declare’s story begins in Latin: declarare meant “to make clear.” To make clear, from de- (thoroughly) and clarare (to make clear). It reached English by 1300s as declare. Settled as the English word for stating something formally and clearly. Today, declare means to state something formally, clearly, and publicly.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient declarare "to make clear", to make clear, from de- (thoroughly) and clarare (to make clear).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s declare "to state something formally and clearly", settled as the English word for stating something formally and clearly.