Etymology Map
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Expert

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a person with special knowledge

Where does the word "expert" come from? It comes from Latin expertus, adopted directly into English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
expertus
Latin · ancient
"experienced, tried"
past participle of 'experiri', to try, the root of 'experience'
2
Stage 2 of 2
expert
English · 1300s
"experienced"
the noun, a person with special knowledge, dates from the 1800s
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Read the full story

Expert’s story begins in Latin: expertus meant “experienced, tried.” Past participle of 'experiri', to try, the root of 'experience'. It reached English by 1300s as expert. The noun, a person with special knowledge, dates from the 1800s. Today, expert means a person with special knowledge.