emit

Where does the word "emit" come from? It comes from Latin emittere, and was adopted directly into English (1620s).

Emit’s story begins in Latin: emittere meant “to send out.” To send out, from ex- (out) and mittere (to send). It reached English by 1620s as emit. Settled as the English word for sending out light, sound, gas, or other matter. Today, emit means to give off or send out light, sound, gas, or other matter.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient emittere "to send out", to send out, from ex- (out) and mittere (to send).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1620s emit "to send out light, sound, or other matter", settled as the English word for sending out light, sound, gas, or other matter.