exit

Where does the word "exit" come from? It comes from Latin exire, passing through Latin before entering English (1530s).

Exit’s story begins in Latin: exire meant “to go out.” To go out, from ex- (out) and ire (to go). Within Latin, it grew into exit by ancient. He or she goes out, a stage direction marking a character's departure. It reached English by 1530s as exit. Settled as the English word for a way out or the act of leaving. Today, exit means a way out of a place, or the act of leaving.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient exire "to go out", to go out, from ex- (out) and ire (to go).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient exit "he or she goes out", he or she goes out, a stage direction marking a character's departure.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1530s exit "a way out, or the act of leaving", settled as the English word for a way out or the act of leaving.