dilate

Where does the word "dilate" come from? It comes from Latin ferre, passing through Latin before entering English (1300s).

Dilate’s story begins in Latin: ferre meant “to carry, to bear.” The root of 'transfer', 'offer' and 'refer'. Within Latin, it grew into dilatare by ancient. To spread out, to widen, from dis- (apart) and latus (borne, carried). It reached English by 1300s as dilate. Settled as the English word for becoming wider or more open. Today, dilate means to make or become wider, larger, or more open.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient ferre "to carry, to bear", the root of 'transfer', 'offer' and 'refer'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient dilatare "to spread out, to widen", to spread out, to widen, from dis- (apart) and latus (borne, carried).
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s dilate "to become wider or more open", settled as the English word for becoming wider or more open.