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Where does the word "elaborate" come from? It comes from Latin elaboratus, and was adopted directly into English (1580s).
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Where does the word "elaborate" come from? It comes from Latin elaboratus, and was adopted directly into English (1580s).
Elaborate’s story begins in Latin: elaboratus meant “worked out.” Past participle of 'elaborare', to work out: 'e-' plus 'labor', work. It reached English by 1580s as elaborate. 'elaborate on' dates from the 1800s. Today, elaborate means detailed and complicated.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient elaboratus "worked out", past participle of 'elaborare', to work out: 'e-' plus 'labor', work.
- Stage 2 · English · 1580s elaborate "worked out", 'elaborate on' dates from the 1800s.