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Where does the word "exert" come from? It comes from Latin exserere, and was adopted directly into English (1660s).
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Where does the word "exert" come from? It comes from Latin exserere, and was adopted directly into English (1660s).
Exert’s story begins in Latin: exserere meant “to thrust out.” 'ex-' plus 'serere', to join. It reached English by 1660s as exert. 'exertion' followed. Today, exert means to apply force or effort.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient exserere "to thrust out", 'ex-' plus 'serere', to join.
- Stage 2 · English · 1660s exert "to thrust forth", 'exertion' followed.