explode

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

Explode’s story begins in Latin: plaudere meant “to clap.” To clap, combined with ex- (out). Within Latin, it grew into explodere by ancient. To drive off the stage by clapping or hissing, from ex- and plaudere. It reached English by 1530s as explode. Settled as the English word originally for rejecting scornfully, later shifting to mean bursting violently. Today, explode means to burst suddenly and violently, often with a loud noise.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient plaudere "to clap", to clap, combined with ex- (out).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient explodere "to drive off the stage by clapping or hissing", to drive off the stage by clapping or hissing, from ex- and plaudere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1530s explode "to reject scornfully, later to burst violently", settled as the English word originally for rejecting scornfully, later shifting to mean bursting violently.