educate

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

Educate’s story begins in Latin: ducere meant “to lead.” To lead, combined with ex- (out). Within Latin, it grew into educare by ancient. To bring up, to rear, related to educere (to lead out). It reached English by 1400s as educate. Settled as the English word for giving intellectual, moral, and social instruction. Today, educate means to give intellectual, moral, and social instruction to someone.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient ducere "to lead", to lead, combined with ex- (out).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient educare "to bring up, to rear", to bring up, to rear, related to educere (to lead out).
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s educate "to give intellectual, moral, and social instruction", settled as the English word for giving intellectual, moral, and social instruction.