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Where does the word "eradicate" come from? It comes from Latin eradicare, and was adopted directly into English (1560s).
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Where does the word "eradicate" come from? It comes from Latin eradicare, and was adopted directly into English (1560s).
Eradicate’s story begins in Latin: eradicare meant “to root out.” 'e-', out, plus 'radix', root. It reached English by 1560s as eradicate. Smallpox was eradicated in 1980. Today, eradicate means to destroy completely.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient eradicare "to root out", 'e-', out, plus 'radix', root.
- Stage 2 · English · 1560s eradicate "to uproot", smallpox was eradicated in 1980.