Etymology Map
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Evacuate

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to remove people from a dangerous place

Where does the word "evacuate" come from? It comes from Latin evacuare, adopted directly into English (1520s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
evacuare
Latin · ancient
"to empty out"
'e-', out, plus 'vacuus', empty
2
Stage 2 of 2
evacuate
English · 1520s
"to empty"
wartime 'evacuees' date from the 1930s
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Read the full story

Evacuate’s story begins in Latin: evacuare meant “to empty out.” 'e-', out, plus 'vacuus', empty. It reached English by 1520s as evacuate. Wartime 'evacuees' date from the 1930s. Today, evacuate means to remove people from a dangerous place.