Back to all words

Dilate

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to make or become wider, larger, or more open
1
Stage 1 of 3
ferre
Latin · ancient
"to carry, to bear"
to carry, to bear, with irregular past participle latus
2
Stage 2 of 3
dilatare
Latin · ancient
"to spread out, to widen"
to spread out, to widen, from dis- (apart) and latus (borne, carried)
3
Stage 3 of 3
dilate
English · 1300s
"to become wider or more open"
settled as the English word for becoming wider or more open
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom