divulge

Where does the word "divulge" come from? It comes from Latin vulgus, passing through Latin before entering English (1400s).

Divulge’s story begins in Latin: vulgus meant “the common people, the crowd.” The common people, the crowd, combined with dis- (apart). Within Latin, it grew into divulgare by ancient. To make known among the common people, from dis- and vulgus. It reached English by 1400s as divulge. Settled as the English word for revealing private or secret information. Today, divulge means to make known private or secret information.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient vulgus "the common people, the crowd", the common people, the crowd, combined with dis- (apart).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient divulgare "to make known among the common people", to make known among the common people, from dis- and vulgus.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s divulge "to reveal private or secret information", settled as the English word for revealing private or secret information.