evict

Where does the word "evict" come from? It comes from Latin evincere, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Evict’s story begins in Latin: evincere meant “to conquer, to recover by force of law.” To conquer completely, to recover by legal process, from ex- (out) and vincere (to conquer). It reached English by 1300s as evict. Settled as the English word for legally expelling someone from a property. Today, evict means to legally expel someone from a property, especially for not paying rent.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient evincere "to conquer, to recover by force of law", to conquer completely, to recover by legal process, from ex- (out) and vincere (to conquer).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s evict "to legally expel someone from a property", settled as the English word for legally expelling someone from a property.