emergency

Where does the word "emergency" come from? It comes from Latin mergere, passing through New Latin before entering English (1630s).

Emergency’s story begins in Latin: mergere meant “to dip, to plunge.” To dip, to plunge, giving rise to emergere (to rise out). By 1600s, the word had taken hold in New Latin as emergentia. A rising up, an unforeseen occurrence, from emergere. It reached English by 1630s as emergency. Settled as the English word for a serious, unexpected situation requiring immediate action. Today, emergency means a serious, unexpected situation requiring immediate action.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient mergere "to dip, to plunge", to dip, to plunge, giving rise to emergere (to rise out).
2. Stage 2 · New Latin · 1600s emergentia "an unforeseen occurrence", a rising up, an unforeseen occurrence, from emergere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1630s emergency "a serious, unexpected situation requiring immediate action", settled as the English word for a serious, unexpected situation requiring immediate action.