diverse

Where does the word "diverse" come from? It comes from Latin diversus, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Diverse’s story begins in Latin: diversus meant “turned different ways.” Turned different ways, from dis- (apart) and vertere (to turn). It reached English by 1300s as diverse. Settled as the English word for showing a great deal of variety. Today, diverse means showing a great deal of variety, made up of distinct elements.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient diversus "turned different ways", turned different ways, from dis- (apart) and vertere (to turn).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s diverse "showing a great deal of variety", settled as the English word for showing a great deal of variety.