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Where does the word "deluge" come from? It comes from Latin diluvium, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "deluge" come from? It comes from Latin diluvium, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Deluge’s story begins in Latin: diluvium meant “a great flood.” A washing away, a great flood, from diluere (to wash away). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as deluge. Carried into French for an overwhelming flood. It reached English by 1300s as deluge. Settled as the English word for a great flood or overwhelming rush. Today, deluge means a great flood of water, or an overwhelming rush of something.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient diluvium "a great flood", a washing away, a great flood, from diluere (to wash away).
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval deluge "an overwhelming flood", carried into French for an overwhelming flood.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s deluge "a great flood, or an overwhelming rush of something", settled as the English word for a great flood or overwhelming rush.