Etymology Map
Back to all words

Evolution

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the process by which living things develop over generations; gradual development

Where does the word "evolution" come from? It comes from Latin evolutio, adopted directly into English (1850s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
evolutio
Latin · classical
"unrolling"
'unrolling', as of a papyrus scroll, from evolvere 'to roll out'
2
Stage 2 of 2
evolution
English · 1850s
"change in species over generations"
first used of unfolding or military manoeuvres; Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species (1859) ends with 'evolved' but first used 'evolution' in its sixth edition of 1872
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Evolution’s story begins in Latin: evolutio meant “unrolling.” 'unrolling', as of a papyrus scroll, from evolvere 'to roll out'. It reached English by 1850s as evolution. First used of unfolding or military manoeuvres; Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species (1859) ends with 'evolved' but first used 'evolution' in its sixth edition of 1872. Today, evolution means the process by which living things develop over generations; gradual development.