deflate

Where does the word "deflate" come from? It comes from Latin flare, passing through Latin before entering English (1891).

Deflate’s story begins in Latin: flare meant “to blow.” To blow, combined with de- (down, away). Within Latin, it grew into deflare by ancient. 'inflate' is from the opposite Latin 'inflare', to blow into. It reached English by 1891 as deflate. Coined as the opposite of inflate, for letting air or gas out of something. Today, deflate means to release air or gas from something, or to reduce someone's confidence.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient flare "to blow", to blow, combined with de- (down, away).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient deflare "to blow away", 'inflate' is from the opposite Latin 'inflare', to blow into.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1891 deflate "to let air or gas out of something", coined as the opposite of inflate, for letting air or gas out of something.