Etymology Map
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Depart

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to leave

Where does the word "depart" come from? It comes from Latin dispertire, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
dispertire
Latin · ancient
"to divide"
'dis-' plus 'partire', to divide
2
Stage 2 of 3
departir
Old French · medieval
"to divide, leave"
the marriage vow once read 'till death us depart', i.e. separate
3
Stage 3 of 3
depart
English · 1200s
"to divide; to leave"
'department' kept the dividing sense
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Read the full story

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.