distract

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

Distract’s story begins in Latin: distrahere meant “to draw apart.” To draw apart, from dis- (apart) and trahere (to draw). It reached English by 1400s as distract. Settled as the English word for diverting someone's attention. Today, distract means to divert someone's attention away from what they are focused on.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient distrahere "to draw apart", to draw apart, from dis- (apart) and trahere (to draw).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s distract "to divert someone's attention", settled as the English word for diverting someone's attention.