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Where does the word "depart" come from? It comes from Latin dispertire, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "depart" come from? It comes from Latin dispertire, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Depart’s story begins in Latin: dispertire meant “to divide.” 'dis-' plus 'partire', to divide. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as departir. The marriage vow once read 'till death us depart', i.e. separate. It reached English by 1200s as depart. 'department' kept the dividing sense. Today, depart means to leave.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient dispertire "to divide", 'dis-' plus 'partire', to divide.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval departir "to divide, leave", the marriage vow once read 'till death us depart', i.e. separate.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s depart "to divide; to leave", 'department' kept the dividing sense.