dissent

Where does the word "dissent" come from? It comes from Latin dissentire, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Dissent’s story begins in Latin: dissentire meant “to feel apart, to disagree.” To feel apart, to disagree, from dis- (apart) and sentire (to feel). It reached English by 1400s as dissent. Settled as the English word for holding a different opinion from the majority. Today, dissent means to hold or express opinions that differ from those officially or generally accepted.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient dissentire "to feel apart, to disagree", to feel apart, to disagree, from dis- (apart) and sentire (to feel).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s dissent "to hold or express opinions different from the majority", settled as the English word for holding a different opinion from the majority.