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Where does the word "elate" come from? It comes from Latin efferre, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).
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Where does the word "elate" come from? It comes from Latin efferre, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).
Elate’s story begins in Latin: efferre meant “to carry out, to lift up.” To carry out, to lift up, from ex- (out) and ferre (to carry), with irregular past participle elatus. It reached English by 1500s as elate. Settled as the English word for filling someone with great happiness. Today, elate means to fill someone with great happiness, pride, or excitement.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient efferre "to carry out, to lift up", to carry out, to lift up, from ex- (out) and ferre (to carry), with irregular past participle elatus.
- Stage 2 · English · 1500s elate "to fill someone with great happiness or pride", settled as the English word for filling someone with great happiness.